Suicide blast kills at least 72 in Lahore park

 

Carnage on Easter Sunday

Govt should brief Parliament on RAW’s involvement: Khursheed Shah

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khurhseed Ahmed Shah, on Monday demanded the government to brief the parliament on India’s alleged involvement in destabilising Pakistan.

“I demand the government to brief the lawmakers in the parliament on how a neighbouring country was trying to destabilise our country,” he said referring to Indian premier agency’s alleged involvement in perpetrating terror in Balochistan and Karachi.

Talking to media in Sukkur, Shah said it was a high time the nation got united against terrorism. “I am sure that we will be able to stop such events and will be able to arrest those carrying out such activities by making use of modern technology,” the Opposition Leader said.

“Our law enforcement agencies will have to be on the top of this and they will succeed in stopping such events from happening,” he added.

 

PM arrives in Lahore

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Lahore early Monday morning. The premier is accompanied by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar.

PM Nawaz is visiting victims of the blast at Jinnah Hospital Lahore.

The army had been called in, he said, and soldiers were at the scene helping with rescue operations and security.

Senior police official Haider Ashraf said the blast appeared to be a suicide attack, adding that ball bearings were found at the crowded park.

“Ball Bearings have been used in the blast. Terrorists are targeting the innocent people.” Kh. Salman Rafique

— Govt Of The Punjab (@GovtOfPunjab) March 27, 2016

” The injured are being treated on emergency basis. Emergency has been declared in all hospitals of Lahore.”

— Govt Of The Punjab (@GovtOfPunjab) March 27, 2016

A medical superintendent at Jinnah Hospital, who gave his name only as Dr Ashraf, told AFP more than 40 dead bodies had arrived at the hospital.

“The number of injured stands at more than 200 people, most of them are in critical condition,” he said. I fear the death toll will rise.”

He described a nightmarish scene at the hospital, with staff treating casualties on floors and in corridors.

Gulshan Iqbal Park. The exact place where terrorist blast occured.#LahoreBlast pic.twitter.com/ModJgq6rOp

— ZeShan Malik (@ZeshanMalick) March 27, 2016

Javed Ali, a 35-year-old resident who lives opposite park, said the force of the blast had shattered his home’s windows.

 

Police claim to have identified Lahore bomber

“Everything was shaking, there were cries and dust everywhere.

“After ten minutes I went outside. There was human flesh on the walls of our house. People were crying, I could hear ambulances.”

 

He added: “It was overcrowded because of Easter, there were a lot of Christians there. It was so crowded I told my family not to go.”

Witnesses describe children screaming as people carried the injured in their arms. Doctors describe frenzied scenes at hospitals, with staff treating casualties on floors and in corridors.

Meanwhile, all schools under the All Pakistan Private Schools Federation will remain closed on Monday, Express News reported.

Punjab chief minister announces three days of mourning

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced three-day mourning after the suicide attack.

CM Punjab Shehbaz Sharif has announced 3 days mourning over Gulshan e Iqbal incident-

— Govt Of The Punjab (@GovtOfPunjab) March 27, 2016

He also sought a report from IG Punjab about the incident.

US condemns ‘cowardly attack’

The United States condemned as “cowardly” the suicide attack, vowing to work with Pakistan to defeat those sowing terror in the country.

 

Resurrection Day: Deadly terrorist attack mars Easter Sunday activities

“The United States condemns in the strongest terms today’s appalling terrorist attack in Lahore, Pakistan,” National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a White House statement.

Statement on the Terrorist Attack in #Lahore, #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/HH7sU7PP42

— Ned Price (@Price44) March 27, 2016

“This cowardly act in what has long been a scenic and placid park has killed dozens of innocent civilians and left scores injured.”

“We will continue to work with our partners in Pakistan and across the region, as together we will be unyielding in our efforts to root out the scourge of terrorism,” added Price.

 

British PM condemns the Lahore blast

“I’m shocked by the terrorist attack in Lahore. My thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims. We will do what we can to help,” David Cameron tweeted.

I’m shocked by the terrorist attack in Lahore. My thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims. We will do what we can to help.

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 27, 2016

Modi telephones PM Nawaz Sharif, condemns blast

Indian’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned PM Nawaz Sharif and expressed his grief over Lahore bomb blast.

“The coward terrorists attacked children and women” Modi said on Sunday. “It’s condemnable to attack innocent children and women. We are with Pakistani nation at the time of this grief movement.”

 

TTP’s Jamaatul Ahrar claims responsibility

A Pakistan Taliban splinter group claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide attack.

“We carried out the Lahore attack as Christians are our target,” Ehansullah Ehsan, spokesman for the hardline Jamaat-ul-Ahrar faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location.

He said the group would carry out more such attacks, vowing to target schools and colleges alongside government and military interests.

COAS chairs high-level meeting

Following the blast, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif chaired a high-level meeting in Rawalpindi.

Timeline of deadliest insurgent attacks in Pakistan

According to the ISPR, the army chief directed the authorities concerned to find linkages and perpetrators of the Lahore blast at the earliest.

#COAS chaired a high lvl security mtng.Amongst others DG ISI,DG MI attended.Having evaluated initial info,COAS directed concerned comds&-1

— Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) March 27, 2016

Int agencies to commence ops asap to find linkages&perpetrators of Lhr suicide attk. COAS resolved that we must bring the killers of our-2

— Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) March 27, 2016

innocent brothers,sisters&children to justice &will never allow these savage inhumans to over run our life and liberty-3/3

— Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) March 27, 2016

 

Malala ‘devastated’ 

I am devastated by the senseless killing of innocent people in Lahore, Malala Yousufzai said in a statement following the attack.

Malala’s statement on the tragic #LahoreBlast today. pic.twitter.com/2xrSoGK6Yq

— Malala Fund (@MalalaFund) March 27, 2016

UN’s Ban condemns ‘appalling’ attack

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday condemned the Easter Day suicide bombing, calling it an “appalling” act of terrorism.

“The secretary general strongly condemns the suicide bombing today at Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park in the Pakistani city of Lahore,” a UN statement said.

“The secretary general calls for the perpetrators of this appalling terrorist act to be brought swiftly to justice, consistent with human rights obligations.”

Rickshaw blast: Cylinder explosion leaves two dead in Lahore

Ban called on the Islamabad government “to do its utmost to put in place protective measures to ensure the personal security of all individuals, including religious minority communities living in the country.”

The UN secretary-general added that he “extends his heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families, and expresses his solidarity with the people and government of Pakistan.”

Officials said the toll was expected to rise after the blast that counted numerous children among the casualties.

Explosives packed with ball bearings ripped through crowds near a children’s play area in the park in Lahore, leaving dozens dead or bloodied.

 

 

 

Source: www.tribune.com.pk