9 cops, 19 others martyred, over 50 wounded in terror attack in Lahore

• Suicide bomber riding a motorcycle apparently tried to target cops;
• Several vehicles & motorcycles damaged as result of the explosion
• TTP claims responsibility; President, PM, COAS, Imran, Zardari,
• Ch Nisar, Chief Ministers, Rabbani, Siraj, Shujaat, others grieved

LAHORE: At least 28 people, including eight police personnel, were martyred and dozens others injured in a suicide blast near Kot Lakhpat Sabzi Mandi adjacent to Arfa Karim IT Tower in Lahore, officials said Monday.

Police said that a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle had apparently tried to target policemen, who were present in the area to handle any possible untoward situation in reaction to the ongoing anti-encroachment operation. Camp office of Chief Minister Punjab is also located near Afra Tower.

Several vehicles and motorcycles were damaged as result of the explosion.

Police and other law enforcement personnel had reached the site of the incident soon after the bombing and cordoned off the area. Forensics teams had also collected evidence from the blast site to determine the nature of the explosion.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson of Punjab Government Malik Ahmed Khan said that the demolition of dilapidated buildings was underway in the area when the blast ripped through.  He said that the security of the entire city has been beefed up after the explosion. He said that several vehicles and motorcycles were damaged as result of the explosion. Rescue 1122 also took part in the rescue operation.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Operations Wing of Punjab Police Dr Haider Ashraf confirmed in a media talk that it was a suicide blast and "police were the target." Preliminary probe suggested that at least nine to 11 kilograms of explosives were used in the attack.

State of emergency was imposed in nearby hospitals. Police and rescue sources said that the injured were shifted to nearby hospitals including, Jinnah Hospital, General Hospital and Sheikh Zayed Hospital. Police personnel were also among the injured. 

Some of the injured are in critical condition, hospital sources said.

Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has directed troops to take immediate part in rescue and relief efforts in Lahore blast. Military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said on Twitter Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa shares grief with victims of the blast in Lahore and has issued directives for relief and rescue efforts. 

Speaking to media in Lahore, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanuallah said that the perpetrators of this explosion are the same who had been carrying out terror activities using various names in the country. Sanaullah said an anti-encroachment drive was underway in the area and said, not ruling out that police were the target.

He said that the incumbent government has overcome the menace of terrorism by 70 to 80 per cent.  "We have started an operation against terrorist organisations and the situation is much better as compared to what it was in 2011-12," Sanaullah added.

Meanwhile, banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility of the attack.

The old Sabzi Mandi is also situated in the area. The road has been blocked for all kind of traffic movement soon after the blast.

Condolences poured in following the blast. President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Bajwa and others expressed their grief over the loss of lives in the blast.

In their separate statements, President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif commiserated with bereaved families and directed the authorities concerned to provide best medical facilities to the injured. They said such coward acts cannot deter our resolve to eliminate terrorism and extremism from the country.

According to the PM House, the premier has directed authorities in the city to ensure the best treatment of the wounded in hospitals.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, whose secretariat is near to the blast site condemned the attack and vowed to provide the best medical treatment to the injured. 

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic incident.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Monday, he said he convened the news conference to discuss political situation in the country, but after the sad incident of Lahore, it deems inappropriate to focus on other issues.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman, president of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Pakistan People s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, co-chairman of PPP Asif Ali Zardari, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq, Senate chairman Raza Rabbani and Balochistan chief minister Sanaullah Zehri condemned the blast. - NNI