By Muhammad Shehzad in The Express Tribune, May 8, 2019
LAHORE: At least eight people, including five Elite Force personnel, were martyred when a police vehicle was targetted by a suicide bomber in Lahore on Wednesday.
Three civilians were among those martyred and 21 people were injured in the attack. Police sources confirmed that the Elite Force vehicle was the target of the attack.
The attack occurred near the entrance gate for female visitors to the 11th century Data Darbar shrine, one of the largest Sufi shrines in South Asia.
The shrine has been targeted previously, in a 2010 suicide attack that killed more than 40 people, and is guarded by heavy security.
The injured were shifted to Mayo hospital, confirmed Rescue 1122 officials.
The area of the attack was cordoned off soon after the attack as rescue services transferred the injured to medical facilities and security officials started their investigation into the incident.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has cancelled his visit to Bhakkar and summoned higher police officials and officials of Safe Cities Authority.
The chief minister has asked IG Punjab to submit a report on the incident.
“We will bring to justice the elements involved in the attack,” said Punjab IG Punjab Arif Nawaz and added that a crackdown continues across Punjab against militant outfits.
“All departments including the Counter Terrorism Department are working. We won’t spare any efforts for the security of the citizens,” added another police official.
The forensic staff began collecting evidence from the blast site and an emergency has been imposed in hospitals across Lahore.
Additional pickets have been set up across the provincial capital and security has been heightened after the blast, said DIG Operations Waqaruddin Syed.
“Unauthorised personnel will not be allowed to enter Red Zone,” said the DIG and added that citizens can enter the area if they show their national identification cards.
Condemnation
Prime Minister Imran Khan has strongly denounced the blast outside Data Darbar in Lahore and sought a report from the authorities, Radio Pakistan reported.
The premier has commiserated with the bereaved families and directed authorities concerned to provide best possible medical treatment to those injured in the blast.
Special Assistant to the PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has also condoled with the victims of the blast.
“Those who target shrines are the enemies of Islam and Pakistan. The enemies conspire to create instability in our country,” she said.
An attack in Lahore in March last year left nine people dead, while a major blast targeting Christians celebrating Easter in a park in 2016 killed more than 70 people.
This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1968171/1-blast-reported-near-police-vehicle-lahores-data-darbar/
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