Khudayar Mohla –
As many as 10 people including five policemen have been killed whereas more than 20 were injured in an explosion outside prominent Sufi shrine ‘Data Darbar’ Lahore on Wednesday morning.
According to reports, provincial police chief of the Punjab Arif Nawaz has confirmed a total of 20 people were injured whereas he said that police were the 100 percent targeted in the attack.
The incident took place at 8:40am near Gate number 2 of the Darbar where Elite Force mobile van was parked. There were five people in the van — four policemen and one driver. The driver was not in the van at the time of the blast. Other cars nearby were also damaged in the blast.
Inspector General of Punjab police Nawaz has been reported to say that attacker failed to hit another side of the shrine and chose to approach the police van stationed at the spot. Nawaz told the journalists that police is deputed round the clock as part of routine security around the shrine adding a seven kilogram bomb was used in the explosion.
Most of the blast victims were shifted to Mayo Hospital and an emergency was declared in the hospital. Till evening, four of the injured have been reported in critical condition in Mayo Hospital.
Rescue teams have been reported to say that some passers-by were injured in the blast as well, however, the police have not confirmed yet that how many policemen were deployed outside the shrine.
Soon after the happening, concerned agencies evacuated surrounding area of the shrine whereas bomb disposal squad also reached at the crime scene and collected material evidence. During preliminary investigation police noted statements of witnesses at the spot and the police mobile van driver, who has been reported to say that he went to an ATM to withdraw money at the time of the blast.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has been reported to issue directives to the concerned authorities to probe into the matter whereas prime minister Imran Khan has also sought report over the incident.
While talking to journalists, provincial law minister Raja Basharat disclosed that place of occurrence has already been declared ‘sensitive’ saying there was information about threat due to which police force was deployed at the place to provide better security. Raja pledged to take tangible measure in order to avoid any kind of such incident in future.
It is pertinent to mention that police have not officially confirmed the nature of the blast whether it was a suicide attack or planted device. A DIG operations said while requesting general public to avoid speculations saying investigation has nothing to do with speculations.
