LAHORE: At least 15 people were killed, while several others were injured in a blast at Charing Cross in front of the Punjab Assembly in Lahore on Monday.
According to media reports, SSP Traffic Zahid Gondal and DIG Traffic Ahmed Mobin were also martyred in the incident.
A large group of chemists and pharmaceutical manufacturers had been protesting in front of the assembly when a nearby vehicle exploded. There was a significant presence of law enforcers in the area due to the protest. The blast occurred when a protest rally was passing near the spot.
An emergency was declared in all the hospitals of the city. The injured were being shifted to Mayo hospital and Ganga Ram Hospital. Rescue services, including ambulances and fire tenders reached the spot of the incident and the injured were shifted to Mayo Hospital and Ganga Ram Hospital.
Contingents of Pakistan Army and Rangers have also reached the site. Security forces cordoned off the area with tents, and the inner cordon was taken over by Pak Army personnel. Hours earlier, DIG Traffic had been seen on television mediating with protesters who had gathered at the site. A large group of chemists and pharmaceutical manufacturers had been protesting in front of the assembly when a nearby vehicle exploded.
Meanwhile, President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif, PTI Chairman Imran Khan and main leaders of other political parties have condemned the Lahore blast and expressed sorrow over the loss of precious human lives. In their separate messages, they said that said such dastardly acts cannot shake the resolve of the nation.
President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed resolve to bring the culprits of these heinous acts to justice. The prime minister directed to provide best medical facilities to the injured and victims of the blast. Interior Minister ChaudharyNisar Ali Khan has strongly condemned the blast incident in Lahore.
In a statement, he expressed deep grief over the loss of precious lives in the incident. Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani condemned the blast outside the Punjab Assembly in Lahore and said that such cowardly acts of terrorism cannot deter nation’s resolve to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from the country.
