LAHORE: At least 52 people, including two Rangers personnel and children, were killed in a suicide blast at Wagah border in Lahore on Sunday, officials said.
According to initial details, several people been injured and the death toll is expected to rise with the suspected use of ball bearings in the blast.
The blast took place at 5:50pm as the flag hoisting ceremony came to an end and crowd began leaving the parade ground.
A large number of people visit the Wagah Border — the only road crossing border between Pakistan and India — every Sunday to witness the flag hoisting ceremony by rangers of both countries.
Punjab DG Rangers Maj-General Tahir Javed Khan confirmed that three Rangers have died.
“Five Ranger officials have been critically injured as well,” he added, while addressing the media in Lahore.
Confirming that it was a suicide blast, DG Rangers said, “The suicide bomber was standing just before the first scanner and he did not breach security.”
“The place where the suicide attacker exploded is 500-600 yards way from the parade ground,” he said. “Walk through gates and scanners were installed near the parade ground.”
President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif have expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in the blast, Radio Pakistan reported.
In separate statements, they expressed sympathy with bereaved families.
The premier has sought a report of the incident and directed the concerned authorities to provide the best medical treatment to the injured people.
Further, he has directed the interior ministry and law enforcement agencies to provide all necessary support to the Punjab government in investigating the Wagah incident.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of the incident and sought report from the administration and police authorities.
Punjab police chief Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera has confirmed that it was a suicide attack.
Speaking to Express News, IG Punjab said, “Our teams have confirmed that it was a suicide blast.”
The IG said that the suicide bomber was stopped at the gate of the parade ground at the border and detonated the bomb right when people gathered near the gate.
“Up to five kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the blast,” Sukhera said.
“The bomb exploded outside a restaurant near a Pakistani paramilitary soldiers’ checkpoint at Wagah border,” he added.
“There were security threats and the Rangers were prepared but when large numbers of people started to leave the ground, the bomber blew himself causing loss of lives.”
The police chief denied that this incident was because of a security lapse as the border is a Rangers area.
The explosion occurred in the parking area of the Wagah border between India and Pakistan, as the flag hoisting ceremony ended.
Initially it was reported that it was a cylinder blast.
“We think it is sabotage,” DIG Operations Haider Ashraf said, while talking to media representatives.
He urged families to give way to injured people and ambulances that are still being brought in.
The Punjab health department has imposed an emergency in all teaching hospitals in Lahore following the blast.
“The injured were initially taken to Ghurki Hospital, which is nearest to the site of the blast,” adding “Patients in critical condition are being shifted to Services Hospital for the treatment,” the health department spokesperson said.
Police and rescue officials have reached the scene and further investigations are underway.
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