LAHORE, Pakistan: Terrorists attacked a team of ongoing sixth population census in Lahore on Wednesday morning when a suspected suicide bomber blew himself near a van carrying the team in the Punjab’s Capital.
Security sources said that six persons including four army personnel embraced martyrdom and 15 further received injuries in the blast that took place in cantonment area at Lahore’s Bedian Road.
Earlier, it was reported that a cylinder explosion took place at Bedian Road which caused casualties; however, according to initial investigation, it was a suicide blast.
The suicide bomber targeted the team of census. The body parts of suicide bomber had been collected following the blast.
Meanwhile, the security forces started a search operation in the area following the incident.
The injured were immediately shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Lahore for medical treatment.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his deepest condolences on the loss of precious human lives in the blast incident in Lahore.
Sympathizing deeply with the martyrs’ families, the prime minister prayed to Allah Almighty to bless the departed souls with eternal peace.
The prime minister paid rich tributes to the personnel of Pakistan Army who were targeted while performing their duties during the national census.
Nawaz Sharif directed the authorities concerned to extend all requisite assistance to the provincial government.
In a statement, the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the blast at Bedian Road and sought report from the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The Chief Minister said that perpetrators of the incident will be brought to justice.
. @CMShehbaz has strongly condemned the blast at Bedian Road.
— Govt Of The Punjab (@GovtOfPunjab) April 5, 2017
.@CMShehbaz . @CMShehbaz has sought report of the blast at Bedian road.
— Govt Of The Punjab (@GovtOfPunjab) April 5, 2017
.@CMShehbaz . @CMShehbaz has directed the authorities to provide best medical facilities to the injured.
— Govt Of The Punjab (@GovtOfPunjab) April 5, 2017
Strongly condemn terror attack on Bedian road in Lahore targeting census team leading to loss of precious Pakistani lives.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 5, 2017
Moreover, President Mamnoon Hussain, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari among others also condemned the Lahore blast.
It is pertinent to mention here that the latest attack in Lahore is part of a new wave of terrorist incidents which gripped the whole Country following the re-opening of Pak-Afghan border last month.
Talking to media, the Punjab Law Minister Punjab Rana Sanaullah said that terrorist activities are planned in Afghanistan’s provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar.
The Corps Commander Lahore Lt. General Sadiq Ali visited the CMH Lahore and inquired after health of those injured in the blast.
“I am proud on security forces’ martyrdom,” he said on the occasion.
Lt. General Sadiq Ali said that the team of census embraced martyrdom for the sake of the nation.
