Three killed, 28 hurt as bomb blast blows up prize bond shop in Lahore

–PM, other political personalities pour in condolences

LAHORE: A huge bomb explosion rocked Lahore’s busiest shopping market Anarkali Bazar on Thursday killed three people and injured 28 others including four in critical condition.

The injured were transferred to the city’s Mayo Hospital. Around eight injured persons were in a precarious condition, hospital’s Medical
Superintendent said.

The deceased included a nine-year child who had arrived from Karachi to relatives in Lahore. The explosion damaged several motorcycles parked at the place of the incident. The impact of the blast also shattered windowpanes.

Security forces personnel cordoned off the area and cleared it from unconcerned persons. The bomb disposal squad initiated an investigation of the incident.

Rescue 1122 was providing emergency medical aid to the injured.

The Medical Superintendent Mayo Hospital has been directed by authorities to declare emergency in the hospital to tackle the situation.

“It was a bomb blast,” DIG Police-Operations Lahore Dr. Abid confirmed. “The explosives were planted in a motorbike,” he said. The bomb was detonated with a time device, according to reports. “It was a bomb blast,” DIG Police-Operations Lahore Dr. Abid confirmed. “The explosives were planted in a motorbike,” he said.

“The blast took place at Lohari Chowk. We rushed to the spot after reporting about it,” Dr Abid said. “The bomb disposal unit (BDU) staff is also present at the spot,” he said. “Initially it seems it was a planted device,” he said. “It will be premature to say anything about the explosive material and where it was planted,” he said.

He said rescue operation has been completed. The injured and dead bodies have been transferred to hospitals. “Police and the forensic agency will soon reach to the final assessment about the blast,” he added.

Rescue 1122 officials said that two dead were identified as 31-year-old Muhammad Ramzan and 9-year-old Absar.

The injured include Jamil (50), Abdullah (22), Salman (37), Salman (31), Samiullah (24), Ejaz (25),  Arslan (17), Anwar (45), Sheikh Zaman (18), Zaheer Iqbal (54), Muhammad Adeem (32), Ahmed (27), Bilal (30), Faisal Saeed (27), Tahir Hafeez (33), Haider Tahir (35), Ashad Khalid (20), Azhar (42), Zawar Khan (50), Waheed (21), Faisal Butt (21) and three women—Nabeela Bibi (45), Nesha Salman (25), Rida Khalid (22).

Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar sought reports from the relevant authorities and ordered best medical facilities to the injured. Punjab IGP also took notice of the blast and sought a report from Lahore CCPO.

Punjab CM Usman Buzdar said that the blast near Anarkali Bazaar Lahore was a vicious act of sabotaging the atmosphere of law and order. “We Share the grief and pain of the families of those killed in the blast and instructions have been given to provide the best medical care to the injured.”

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid talking to media persons said that Mayo Hospital doctors, professors and medical staff were providing medical facilities to the injured persons.

She said that health department along with the Home department have been conducting the forensics of the blast site and details will be shared accordingly.

Dr. Yasmin Rashid said four patients are in critical conditions and doctors are operating them.

President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Mian Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the loss of precious human lives in the Lahore blast and said that poor and minors were affected by the blast which is strongly condemnable.

Opposition Leader of National Assembly said that terrorism in Lahore days after an incident in Islamabad is not a good sign for the country.

Shehbaz Sharif also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said in a statement that he strongly condemned the Lahore Anarkali blast. The blast caused great grief over the loss of human lives. Pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The Punjab government has demanded a report on the Anarkali blast.

Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the bomb blast in Lahore and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

Punjab government should take immediate steps for better treatment of the injured, blast in Anarkali after the martyrdom of police officers in Islamabad is worrisome.

Former president of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari condemned the blast in Lahore and expressed sympathy, condolences to the families of the victims, and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. He added that three lives were killed in target killing that took place in the era of Ismail Khan while terrorism is getting out of control in the country. Imran Khan is incompetent to deal with the crisis situation across the country.

Zardari added that the government should bring the terrorists and planners to the legal proceedings.

PMLN Vice President Maryam Nawaz also condemned the blast in her tweet.

She wrote: “Blast in a crowded and busy place like Anarkali is extremely condemnable and worrisome incident. Three people died including a child and scores of others sustained injuries. May Allah have mercy on them, on their family members and on Pakistan.”

JUI-F supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PML-Q leader Ch Shujaat Hussain, Punjab Assembly Speaker Ch Pervaiz Elahi and Federal Minister for Water Resources Ch Moonis Elahi condemned the Anarkali blast.

They said that it was an attempt to vitiate the peace of the city and demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the culprits who were behind this terrorist act. They prayed for the forgiveness of the souls of the deceased and the speedy recovery of the wounded. TF REPORT