LAHORE – At least 35 people were martyred and 254 others injured on Wednesday evening as two suicide bombers exploded themselves minutes after a cracker blast at a mourning procession held in connection with death anniversary of Hazrat Ali (AS) near Karbala Gamay Shah and Bhati Gate. Soon after the incident, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al-Almi claimed the responsibility of carrying out the blasts.
On the other hand, Muslim Sunni Ittehad, Jafferia Alliance and the business community have announced three-day mourning across the country to protest against the heinous act.
The bombers detonated their suicide vests at separate spots as the people had started returning after the main procession entered the premises of Karbala Gamay Shah. The string of blasts occurred in the span of 30 minutes immediately after Iftar. Two women and five children were also among the dead.
Karbala Gamay Shah Imambargah and Bhati Gate are located near Data Darbar, which was recently targeted by suicide attackers, leaving 45 dead and above 200 injured. The death toll could rise as some of the injured were reported to be in critical condition as the report is being filed.
Hundreds of people were busy in offering rituals when two suicide bombers managed to breach the security cordon. “The first attacker, said to be a 19-year-old, exploded his suicide vest in the courtyard of the site amid the procession while the second bomber blew himself up at the main entrance from the backside,” police and eyewitnesses said. Both the explosions were organised and coordinated, investigators added.
Earlier, the rescue teams, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) and law-enforcement agencies rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. According to the BDS officials, suicide bombers caused the blasts and head of one of the bombers was also recovered from the site. They further said ball bearings were used in the suicide jackets.
Rescue 1122 spokesman Faheem Jehanzaib said around 85 injured were shifted to Mayo, 25 to Sir Ganga Ram, 29 to Services and four to the Jinnah hospitals where 18 of them succumbed to wounds while the condition of 35 people, including six policemen, was critical. The Edhi spokesman, however, said 25 people had been killed while more than 185 were severely injured.
DIG (Operations) Rao Sardar Ali Khan told reporters that the first blast took place at a picket when the cops intercepted the bomber for search but he exploded himself, leaving one official dead on the spot. He further said the second blast occurred at another police picket, established among the crowd near a passage. He also endorsed the reports that two blasts were caused by the suicide bombers while third one was a cracker blast, planned to create panic among the mourners.
An eyewitness Sher Ali said, “We were leaving for homes when a suicide bomber exploded his vest around 10 yards away from me.”
“We were trying to inquire about our loved ones after the cracker blast when the suicide blast at Bhati Gate took place from where many of the mourners were passing through,” he added.
Another witness Ali Abbas said the first one was a cracker blast, which created panic among the mourners while the second explosion occurred when they ran away towards Bhati Gate and converged the point. He said another blast was heard near the entrance point of Urdu Bazaar.
Murtaza Hasan, a mourner, said dozens of the mourners were injured in the stampede after the cracker blast. “The procession was about to enter Karbala Gamay Shah when we heard the cracker blast,” he said.
Taqi Shah, an injured eyewitness, said, “The sound of the blast at Bhati Gate was heartbreaking, which was followed by smoke, cries and blood,” he said.
Talking to this scribe informed sources disclosed that India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) was directly involved in the incident. “Besides other neighbouring countries, RAW is involved while the involvement of Israel and could not be ruled out. Reports regarding extra ordinary terror activities in the country, especially in Lahore, had been submitted to the departments concerned,” they added.
They said the network was being operated from Afghanistan as all these agents were being pumped from the neighbouring state.
Similarly, Commissioner Lahore Khusro Pervez also hinted the possibility of the foreign handÂ’s involvement.
Meanwhile, Jafferia Alliance Chief Allama Abbas Kameeli appealed to the Shia and Sunni Muslims to remain peaceful, saying these elements were the enemy of the Muslims; therefore, the nation and the forces had to join their hands and adopt a common strategy against the common enemy. He, however, asked why the government was reluctant in initiating solid steps against the terrorists.
And as the infuriated protesters resorted to violence and attacked the policemen, they escaped from the scene. The angry mob burnt parts of Lower Mall Police Station, situated near the blasts site, besides three vehicles and one motorcycle parked inside the premises. The mob pelted stones at the cops as they ransacked the building and burnt documents and furniture.
At this, police used full force to control the situation, as they fired teargas shells and resorted to aerial firing. The police was reinforced fresh contingent reached the spot after the officials requested the headquarters for reinforcement. But the move resulted in further injuries.
The eyewitnesses said police failed to protect the innocent lives and were now trying to hide the failure by targeting the people. One of them, Haider Shah, asked if the police could not protect the lives of people then they had no right to enjoy such facilities.
The mourners in different majalis across the metropolis condemned the incident and chanted slogans against the police. Demonstrations were also held in different parts of the Walled City.
Meanwhile, Punjab Secretary Home Nadeem Hassan and Capital City Police Chief Mohammad Aslam Tareen called in the Rangers to maintain law and order. The Rangers personnel reached the spot and cordoned of the area. “A massive search operation has been launched in various areas of the City and some suspects have also been apprehended,” a Rangers official said.