LAHORE/KARACHI – Two bomb attacks in Lahore and Karachi killed at least 17 people and left more than 80 injured on Tuesday. A teenage suicide bomber in Lahore blew himself up in Ghora Chowk Lohari Gate on the eve of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and Urs of Data Sahib, killing at least 13 people and injuring more than 50, in the attack claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Fidayeen-e-Islam group.
About 90 minutes later a motorcycle bomb detonated in Kala Board, Malir Halt in Karachi, killing four people. In the attack in Lahore, the terrorist, wearing an explosives-packed jacket weighing about three kilogrammes blew himself up when policemen stopped him at a checkpost.
Policemen and workers of Rescue 1122, Edhi Foundation and Civil Defense were seen carrying the injured away with their hands and on stretchers, while other officers tried to calm the shocked and confused crowd. Lahore DIG Operations Rao Sardar said the police had tried to apprehend the boy before he blew himself up.
“The policeman stopped this boy and wanted to body search him,” he said, adding that he was a teenager. Police sources said the bomber was of between the ages of 13 and 15, had a light beard, adding that he appeared to be of Afghan descent. Hospital administrations had set up emergency counters to facilitate people searching for their relatives.
Forensic experts and Bomb Disposal Squad officials collected circumstantial evidences and cordoned off the scene. BDS official Allah Yaar told Pakistan Today that the bomb was locally made and contained ball bearings only. A massive search and sweep operation has also been launched by the Lahore police. In Karachi, three police officials and a civilian, identified as Hafiz Mushtaq, were killed and four others sustained injuries when a bomb fixed to a motorcycle went off.
Police said constables Imran, Kashif and Kamran Qureshi were killed while ASI Manzoor Bhutto and Head Constable Dil Faraz were injured in the attack. Sources said two policemen, who were patrolling the area on a motorcycle, had informed the police station concerned about the movement of a suspicious motorcyclist.
The police station then directed a mobile unit to intercept the motorcyclist for questioning. However, both policemen could not be contacted until the filing of the story.
