LAHORE: At least ten people, including five elite force personnel, a security guard and four civilians, were martyred and 25 others sustained critical injuries on Wednesday morning in an alleged suicide attack targeting vehicles of police elite force near the entrance gate for female visitors to the 11th-century Data Darbar (shrine) in Lahore.
Talking to media Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Arif Nawaz confirmed that the blast was suicide in nature as they found remains of the bomber. He said the bomber targeted elite force vehicle deployed at gate no 2 of the Data Darbar, resulting in death of ten people and injuries to the score.
According to initial police reports, the explosion took place close to police vehicles near Gate 2 of the shrine. One of the vehicles was completely destroyed. By sources, the police’s elite force was made the target of the blast. Police have cordoned off the site of the attack and sealed all entry points to the Data Darbar in the aftermath of the blast. Hundreds of Muslims were at the Data Darbar as the country marks the holy month of Ramazan.
The injured persons were shifted to hospitals, where an emergency has been imposed, for their treatment. Some of the patients were said to be critical. Many wounded persons were shifted to the Mayo Hospital.
Earlier, DIG Operations Lahore Ashfaq Ahmad Khan had confirmed three police officials died in the blast. A security guard and a resident were also among the dead. At least 25 people are being treated for injuries, some of whom are in critical condition, he added. Talking to media persons he said their teams are working on evaluating the incident.
Moreover, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan decried the attack, and sought an immediate report from the concerned authorities. Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has strongly condemned the attack, and sought a report from the Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the additional chief secretary of interior. He has also summoned a high-level meeting at the Punjab Safe City Headquarters and cancelled his scheduled visits to Bhakkar, Sargodha and Sheikhupura. Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar also condemned the suicide attack
In a statement issued here from Islamabad, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said those who target shrines are enemies of Islam and Pakistan and they are conspiring to stoke destabilization in the country.
