LAHORE: A powerful bomb went off outside Punjab Assembly on Mall Road in Lahore, killing 13 people, including senior police officials, and leaving 78 others injured.
According to the police sources, a sit-in was being staged by Punjab Medical Stores Association and Chemist and Druggist Association near Faisal Chowk, Mall Road when the blast occurred.
The DIG Traffic Police, Captain Ahmed Mubeen and DIG Operations Zahid Ikram Gondal have been killed in the attack.
The device, as reported, had been planted in the middle of the parked vehicles at the site of the explosion. DIG Traffic Capt (R) Ahmed Mubeen was in dialogue with the protesters when the explosion occurred.
Contingents of Pakistan Army, Rescue services, including ambulances and fire tenders have have reached the site.
Health Advisor Khawaja Salman Rafique told media, emergency has been declared in the Ganga Ram Hospital while the Services hospital and others have been alerted on the situation.
In a notification issued on February 7 to the Home Secretary, Punjab, the Provincial Police Officer and DG Pak Rangers Punjab, the National Counter-terrorism Authority (NACTA) had warned of a possible terrorist attack in Lahore.
Many vehicles parked near the blast site caught fire, triggering panic and chaos in the area. A DSNG of private news channel was badly damaged following the blast, injuring their cameraman and driver.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah also confirmed the blast. Admitting a security lapse, he said police failed to maintain a high level security due to massive participation of people in the protest sit-in.
“According to preliminary investigations, it was suicide attack,” he said, adding that the police officers have been killed in the line of duty.
An eyewitness told media persons that many bodies were lying scattered after the blast and there was heavy smoke in the area.
