Eighteen people including DIG Traffic Ahmed Mobin and SSP Operations Zahid Nawaz Gondal, DSP Pervez Butt and three other police officials were killed and about 60 others injured, about a dozen seriously, in a bomb blast in front of the Punjab Assembly Chamber.The blast occurred during protest of chemists. DIG Traffic Ahmed Mobin alongwith other officials was negotiating with protestors when there was a bang and a huge blast and everybody ran for safety. Mobin was reportedly negotiating with protesters for an end to the strike and clear the area.A group of chemists and pharmaceutical manufacturers had gathered in front of the provincial assembly to protest a government crackdown against the sale of illegal drugs. There was a significant presence of law enforcers in the area while the protest was ongoing.Explosion was caused when a man riding a motorcycle collided with a vehicle, said a traffic officer on the scene. Police and officials of other law enforcing agencies cordoned the blast site, whereas the injured were moved to nearby hospitals, including Ganga Ram Hospital, Mayo-Hospital and Services Hospital where emergency was declared. An unknown suspicious person was taken into custody from the site. Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique told media that senior doctors have been called and quality treatment facilities are being extended to the injured.Rescue services, including ambulances and fire tenders, reached the scene soon after the attack. The injured were shifted to Mayo Hospital and Ganga Ram Hospital. An emergency was declared in all hospitals of Lahore.The security forces cordoned off the area with tents, with the inner cordon taken over by Army personnel. Forensic teams were collecting evidence and had started initial investigations.Deputy Commissioner Lahore said there was security threat and the protestors were requested to clear the main Mall road.According to reports, the National Counterterrorism Authority (NACTA) had warned of a possible terrorist attack in Lahore. NACTA had directed that all vital installations, including important buildings, hospitals and schools, be kept under strict vigilance.We strongly condemn the terrorist incident and convey our condolences to the families of all those including police officers, who embraced martyrdom. Lahore is the heart of the country and terrorist attack in front of the Punjab assembly has shocked the whole country. It occurred at the time when it was being announced that final match of PSL would be played in Lahore. Country was seeing stability after the improvement of law and order situation in the country. The incident shows that still much more efforts are required to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country. The governments and law enforcement agencies should revisit their policies and take steps to remove all loopholes. Government should launch inquiry to expose elements behind this heinous incident and those involved in the incident should be brought to justice. We pay tribute to country’s security forces including police which had offered historic sacrifices in the war against terrorism. The sacrifices rendered by the sons of soil in the war against terrorism would not go in vein and the state will continue its fight this menace is eliminated from the country.
