Lahore: 50 killed and 100 injured in Suicide Blast
By Rida Zaheer
Lahore: At least 50 innocent people, including two Rangers personnel and children, were killed in a suicide blast at Wagah b
order in Lahore on Sunday.
According to Dr. Iftikhar Medical Superintendent of Ghurki Hospital more than 100 people brought in hospital. Out of these 48 have been brought dead and remaining were severely injured. The bodies were severely damaged since suicidal used ball bearings and explosive in suicidal jacket. The intelligence circle has already warned that a suicidal attack might occurred in the Muharram.
Punjab police chief Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera has confirmed that it was a suicide attack.
In this regard, IG Punjab said, “Our teams have confirmed that it was a suicide blast.
The IG stated that the suicide bomber was stopped at the gate of the parade ground at the border and detonated the bomb right when people gathered near the gate.
“Up to five kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the blast,” Sukhera said.
“There were security threats and the Rangers were prepared but when large numbers of people started to leave the ground, the bomber blew himself causing loss of lives.”
The police chief denied that this incident was because of a security lapse as the border is a Rangers area.
The explosion occurred in the parking area of the Wagah border between India and Pakistan, as the flag hoisting ceremony ended.
Initially it was reported that it was a cylinder blast.
“We think it is sabotage,” DIG Operations Haider Ashraf said, while talking to media representatives.
He urged families to give way to injured people and ambulances that are still being brought in.
The Punjab health department has imposed an emergency in all teaching hospitals in Lahore following the blast.
“The injured were initially taken to Ghurki Hospital, which is nearest to the site of the blast,” adding “Patients in critical condition are being shifted to Services Hospital for the treatment,” the health department spokesperson said.
Police and rescue officials have reached the scene and further investigations are underway.
Earlier in the day, three people, including two women, were killed when a cylinder exploded in a van they were travelling in on Sunday in Islamabad.
The blast took place at Pir Sohawa. The other passengers have been rescued, according to reports.
Meanwhile, on the same day, two people were injured and seven vehicles were damaged when a fire erupted following a cylinder blast at a LPG shop in Gulshan-e Iqbal area of Karachi.
According to initial reports, the damaged vehicles included five motorcycles and two passenger rickshaws.
The fire that engulfed the shop was controlled soon after the blast.
President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif , COAS, Former President Zardari, PPP Chairperosn Bilwal and PTI Chief Imran Khan have expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in the blast. In separate statements, they expressed sympathy with bereaved families.
The premier has sought a report of the incident and directed the concerned authorities to provide the best medical treatment to the injured people.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of the incident and sought report from the administration and police authorities.
