LAHORE, Pakistan: At least 13 people were killed and 82 injured when an apparent Taliban suicide blast ripped through a protest in Lahore on Monday, Pakistani officials said, shattering the city’s growing sense of security. Police cordoned off the area near the crowded Mall Road, one of the city’s main arteries, as witnesses fled in fear of a second explosion. Local media showed images of the injured being carried away. The road had been packed with hundreds of people, mainly chemists, protesting provincial government plans to further regulate the medical sector. “The blast was so powerful. I saw the injured and bodies, saw flames surrounding the blast site, people were crying,” witness Muhammad Tariq told Agence France-Presse. Chief of police in Punjab province of which Lahore is capital, said at least 13 people including six policemen were killed in the attack. Rescue officials said that at least 82 wounded people had been rushed to city hospitals. The attack “seems to be a suicide blast,” senior police official Amin Wains said, adding it had apparently targeted police trying to regulate the protest. The Pakistani Taliban faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the assault, which came three days after it announced it would carry out a series of attacks on government installations around the country. A spokesman for the group warned in a statement that Monday’s blast was “just the start.” </s> A suicide bomber struck police escorting a protest rally in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Monday, killing at least 13 people and wounding nearly 60 in an attack claimed by a breakaway Taliban faction.

The blast ripped through the crowd of hundreds of pharmacists, who were protesting new amendments to a law governing drug sales. Six police officers, including a former provincial counterterrorism chief, were among those killed, police said.

Police initially said the attacker was on a motorcycle, but provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah later said that closed-circuit footage revealed the bomber was on foot.

Sameer Ahmad, the Lahore deputy commissioner, said at least 13 people were killed and 58 wounded, including nine who were in critical condition.

Live TV registered a loud bang and showed smoke and fire billowing up as people ran away, some of them carrying the wounded.

“We just couldn’t understand what happened,” Tufail Nabi told local Geo News TV. “It was as if some big building collapsed,” he said as he limped away.

A group called Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed the attack in a text message, saying it was revenge for Pakistani military operations against Islamic militants in tribal regions along the Afghan border.

The group, which claimed a number of large attacks last year, is one of several splinter factions from the Pakistani Taliban, which has repeatedly targeted security forces and religious minorities. In recent years, Pakistan has launched several offensives against the Taliban and other Islamic militants in the tribal regions.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif vowed to continue fighting terrorism “until we liberate our people of this cancer and avenge those who have laid down their lives for us.”

Elsewhere in Pakistan, a roadside bomb killed two members of a bomb disposal squad on the outskirts of the southwestern city of Quetta, said police officer Abdur Razzaq Cheema. Another eight people were wounded, he said. A Taliban-linked group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, said it planted the bomb. </s> 14 Feb, LAHORE, Pakistan: A suicide bomber struck police escorting a protest rally in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Monday, killing at least 13 people and wounding nearly 60 in an attack claimed by a breakaway Taliban faction.

The blast ripped through the crowd of hundreds of pharmacists, who were protesting new amendments to a law governing drug sales. Six police officers, including a former provincial counterterrorism chief, were among those killed, police said.

Police initially said the attacker was on a motorcycle, but provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah later said that closed-circuit footage revealed the bomber was on foot.

Sameer Ahmad, the Lahore deputy commissioner, said at least 13 people were killed and 58 wounded, including nine who were in critical condition.

Live TV registered a loud bang and showed smoke and fire billowing up as people ran away, some of them carrying the wounded.

“We just couldn’t understand what happened,” Tufail Nabi told local Geo News TV. “It was as if some big building collapsed,” he said as he limped away.

A group called Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed the attack in a text message, saying it was revenge for Pakistani military operations against Islamic militants in tribal regions along the Afghan border.

The group, which claimed a number of large attacks last year, is one of several splinter factions from the Pakistani Taliban, which has repeatedly targeted security forces and religious minorities. In recent years, Pakistan has launched several offensives against the Taliban and other Islamic militants in the tribal regions.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif vowed to continue fighting terrorism “until we liberate our people of this cancer and avenge those who have laid down their lives for us.”

Washington condemned the Lahore attack and extended condolences to the victims and their families. “We stand with the people of Pakistan in their fight against terrorists and remain committed to the security of the South Asia region,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

Elsewhere in Pakistan, a roadside bomb killed two members of a bomb disposal squad on the outskirts of the southwestern city of Quetta, said police officer Abdur Razzaq Cheema. Another eight people were wounded in the explosion, he said.

A Taliban-linked group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, said it planted the bomb.AP </s> At least eight people were killed and 25 were injured on Wednesday in a suicide bombing targeting a police patrol close to a popular Sufi Muslim shrine in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, police said.

Five police officers were among the fatalities in the blast near the Data Darbar Sufi shrine, one of the largest in South Asia. </s> Markets and businesses were closed across much of Pakistan's Punjab province Tuesday in mourning for 13 people killed in a suicide bombing claimed by a breakaway Taliban faction, police said.

Flags at government buildings flew at half-mast, and lawyers boycotted court proceedings a day after the attack in the provincial capital, Lahore, said police officer Nazar Hayat.

The bomber targeted police escorting a rally by pharmacists protesting amendments to a law on drug pricing. Official funerals were held Tuesday for seven police, including two senior officers, who were killed in the attack.

Nearly 60 people were wounded in the bombing.

The attack was claimed by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, which said it was revenge for Pakistani military operations against militants in tribal regions near the Afghan border. </s> LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani police say businesses are closed across much of the Punjab province in mourning for 13 people killed in a suicide bombing claimed by a breakaway Taliban faction.

Police officer Nazar Hayat says shops were closed Tuesday, a day after the attack in the provincial capital, Lahore. The bomber targeted police escorting a rally by pharmacists protesting amendments to a law on drug pricing.

The dead included six police officers. Nearly 60 people were wounded. The attack was claimed by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, which said it was revenge for Pakistani military operations against militants in tribal regions near the Afghan border. </s> Suicide bombers attacked a court complex in Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least four people, officials said, in the latest incident in a new surge of Islamist violence.A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban's Jamaat-ur-Ahrar faction claimed responsibility for the attack in the northwestern town of Charsadda.The district administration said at least four people were killed. A witness told Reuters he had seen "many" dead bodies at the scene.A string of bombings in Pakistan over the past 10 days has killed more than 100 people.Town resident Mohammad Shah Baz told Reuters he was inside the judicial complex when the suicide bombers stormed it."I escaped towards the canteen and climbed the wall to save my life. But there were many people dead and injured," he said.District police chief Sohail Khalid said at least one of the attackers blew himself up and another opened fire at the main entrance of the court compound before they were shot and killed.Jamaat-ur-Ahrar spokesman Asad Mansoor claimed responsibility the attack in a message to journalists. He said fighting was still going on at the court. </s> At least 13 people were killed and 85 injured when a suicide bomber struck Monday evening around 6pm outside the Punjab Assembly in Lahore during a protest, police officials said.

Inspector General of Police (IG) Punjab Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera confirmed that six police officials were among the dead, including two senior officers.

85 people were also injured in the attack, which he said had targetted police officials present at the site.

The Jamat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the attack.

Police personnel at site of attack. -DawnNews

"The suicide attacker was on foot," Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Chief Dr Mohammad Iqbal had revealed earlier.

SSP Operations Zahid Gondal of Punjab Police and DIG Traffic Lahore Capt (retd) Ahmad Mobin were among those killed in the attack.

Hours earlier, DIG Mobin had been seen on television, mediating with the protesters gathered at the site.

DIG Traffic Lahore Capt (retd) Ahmad Mobin

Mobin was reportedly at the site to negotiate with protesters for an end to the sit-in and to clear the area.

A large group of chemists and pharmaceutical manufacturers were 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.

Up to 400 people had attended the protest, according to an AFP reporter who was on the scene when the explosion occurred.

Map of the area.

Rescue services, including ambulances and fire tenders, reached the scene soon after the attack. An emergency was also declared in all hospitals of Lahore. Majority of the casualties were shifted to Mayo Hospital and Ganga Ram Hospital.

A damaged DSNG at the scene of the attack.

Contingents of Pakistan Army and Rangers also reached the site.

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.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack and reiterated Pakistan is in decisive fight against terrorism while praising the sacrifices of the slain security personnel.

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa instructed local military commanders and intelligence agencies to provide all necessary assistance to civilian authorities and arrest those responsible, a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) read.

Terror alert

NACTA notification.

In a Feb 7 notification addressing the Home Secretary, Punjab, the Provincial Police Officer and DG Pak Rangers Punjab, 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.

"Extreme vigilance and heightened security measures are suggested to avoid any untoward incident," the notification added.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that maximum preparations were made after the threat alert was received.

“The spot where the blast took place is always under threat. Even if there was no alert, strict security measures are always taken in the area.” </s> 11 killed and more than 60 injured in a massive explosion as a suicide bomber on a motorbike attacks a protest in Pakistan

At least 11 people have been killed and 60 were wounded after a Taliban off-shoot attacked a demonstration in Lahore, Pakistan.

The suicide bomber approached the pharmacists on a motorbike and detonated his device as he was passing the marchers.

Hundreds of pharmacists were demonstrating over new laws governing drugs sales when the suicide bomber struck.

Live TV registered a loud bang and showed smoke and fire billowing up as people ran away, some of them carrying the wounded. ‘We just couldn’t understand what happened,’ Tufail Nabi told local Geo News TV. ‘It was as if some big building collapsed,’ he said as he limped away.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar is one of several splinter groups from the Pakistani Taliban, which has carried out scores of attacks against security forces and religious minorities. In recent years, Pakistan has had launched several offensives against the Taliban and other Islamic militant groups in the tribal regions.

Police had cordoned off the area on Mall Road, one of the city’s main arteries, as witnesses fled amid fears of a second blast, with images of the injured being carried away shown by local media.
At least 13 people, including six police officers, are killed and 85 are injured after a bomb explodes at a protest rally in Lahore, Punjab. The Pakistani Taliban splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claims responsibility.