LAHORE – At least two people were killed and 27 were injured when a low-intensity explosion near the main gate of the shrine of Baba Haider Saien near the Lahore Lorry Adda late on Thursday. The annual festivities were at their peak at the shrine when a device, believed to be a low-intensity explosive, went off at around 11pm.
A police officer said the impact of the explosion was mild, as no damage was reported from adjoining premises. The deceased were identified as Azhar Farid of Vehari and Zulfiqar of Badami Bagh. Witnesses said only two cops were deployed at the gate to secure the shrine. Police, however said the explosive device was hurled from a truck passing along the main road.
Sources said around half-a-kilogramme of explosives was used in the attack and the explosive material was attached to a timed device. The Mayo Hospital medical superintendent said the injured brought to the hospital had sustained multiple injuries and the wounds showed that the explosives contained splinters in it.
Lahore DCO Ahad Cheema said the explosion was caused by a remote-controlled device planted near the shrine. The injured persons were shifted to Nawaz Sharif and Mayo Hospital for medical treatment. Gulzar Khan, Muhammad Yaqoob, Muhammad Rashid, Khurram Sarwar, Munawar Latif, Usman Ayyubi, Zahid Saleem, Muhammad Nadeem, Nadir Khan, Amanat Ali, Ibrahim, Rashid, Shahid Maqsood, Akhtar Nazir, Shakeel, Muhamma dAfzal, Akhtar Nazir, Kashif Iqbal, Imtiaz, Muhammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Malik, Imran, Nadeem, Ghulam Jilani, Mubasshar Nazir, Muhammad Amir, Muhammad Naveed and Constable Rashid were shifted to Mayo Hospital and five injured including Azhar Farid, Zahid and Javed were removed to Nawaz Sharif Hospital.
Senior policemen reached the spot and after taking stock of the situation proceeded to the hospitals to inquire about the condition of the injured. Lahore CCPO Aslam Tareen told reporters that the explosive material was packed in a shopping bag and was hidden under some stones. He claimed that the people have received injuries as pieces of stones have hit them. The CCPO said that the incident could not be considered as a result of security lapse.
