LAHORE – In yet another deadly attack in the City, four terrorists struck at the Emergency Department of the Jinnah Hospital late on Monday night, leaving 12 people dead and injuring scores of others.
The police sources said at least three cops, deputed outside the ward, and a woman were also among the victims.
IGP Punjab Tariq Saleem Dogar claimed that the terrorists managed to escape from the scene after around 30-minute gunfight. However, an encounter was going on in Hanjerwal area, located near the hospital, till filing of this report.
Earlier, there was great hue and cry as gunmen attacked the hospital where thousand of patients were under-treatment from across the country.
Eyewitnesses and police sources said the attacker riding a vehicle with official number plate stormed into the hospital at 11:35pm and sprayed bullets on the patients and their attendants. Hundreds of patients, dozens of doctors and paramedical staff were on duty at the hospitalÂ’s emergency ward when the gunmen forced their entry from the front side of the hospital while firing warning shots in the air.
Sources said one of the injured terrorists, Muaaz, who was arrested from Model Town worship place of Ahmadis during FridayÂ’s attacks, was at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital.
An eyewitness Dr Farrukh said, “I entered the ICU almost 15 minutes before the incident for a routine visit. Hardly five minutes after leaving the place, I heard the gunshots and saw three bodies of policemen,” Farrukh said, adding that he suspected the terrorists were successful in taking their accomplice away.
The security sources said the terrorists targeted the hospital in order to release the injured terrorist.
According to the hospital officials, the terrorists held the paramedical staff and the doctors hostage before the police responded to the emergency call and launched the rescue operation.
Hundreds of policemen and Elite Force personnel reached the spot soon after the incident. However, the gunmen had switched off the lights while the communication system were disrupted as well.
Meanwhile, three hostels for boys, two of girls, one of doctors and another for nurses were got evacuated for search operation.
The Jinnah Hospital was still under siege till filing this report.
Later, the police launched massive search operation while the security was put on high alert across the provincial capital.
On the other hand, The IGP told the reporters that the attackers wanted to kill or take away their accomplice, Muaaz. He, however, ruled out the possibility of any security lapse.