Eight killed in Lahore Defence blast

35 injured; explosion takes place in restaurant; one storey, 13 vehicles, 20 motorcycles destroyed; panic spread in city; schools closed; conflicting statements about nature of blast; CM, interior minister seek reports; order best treatment facilities to injured; president, PM, others grieved

LAHORE: At least eight persons were martyred and another 35 injured when a powerful blast took place at the two-storey building of a newly-constructed restaurant of a food chain under mysterious circumstances, in the Z-Block market of Defence-A police precincts on Thursday.

None of the banned outfits claimed responsibility for the blast till the filing of the report. A foreign wire service, however, said that 10 persons were killed in the blast. 

The investigators of the Counter-Terrorism Department initially termed it a bomb blast through remote-control, but later claimed it was a gas cylinder explosion. They claimed the gas cylinder explosion was confirmed from eyewitnesses and the circumstantial evidence, collected from the scene. The evidence suggested the blast happened without ignition as there was no fire or smoke in the building. However, the clearance of basement of the building would further help clear the situation and determine the cause of blast.

Moazzam Paracha, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Airlink, was the owner of the newly-constructed café, who also lost his life in the incident. Paracha, a resident of Model Town, has been survived by four daughters. Other deceased persons included Asif (25); Javed (40), son of Peera Bakhsh; Imran (40), son of Akram; Shabir (25), son of Ameer Ahmad; Habib and Richard Munir. The injured persons included Ahmad, Adeel, Aqib, Afzal, Mansha, Zeeshan, Faisal, Tahir, Waseem, Riaz, Hafeez and Sunny. The condition of four injured persons was stated to be critical.

Five persons died on-the spot, while three others succumbed to their injuries at hospital. An eyewitness, Amjad, a security guard, said he was performing his duty when all of a sudden a deafening explosion took place at around 11:28 am. As a result, one storey of the building caved in, killing eight persons and leaving others injured. At least 13 vehicles and 20 motorcycles were destroyed. Windowpanes of buildings situated in the radius of over 200 metres were shattered due to the impact of the blast.

A number of people received injuries due to broken glass pieces. Soon after the incident, Rescue 1122 and Edhi and other rescue services rushed to the scene and started the rescue operation. The injured persons were shifted to the National Hospital Defence, General Hospital and Jinnah Hospital. Another eyewitness said the blast was so huge that it shook the earth like an earthquake.

A survivor of the blast named Sunny said he was inside the building and it was the day of opening of the café. He said over 80 persons were present in the building when it exploded with a big bang. He also said everyone was allowed to enter the building without any checking. He survived the blastas he was standing along with a pillar.

The investigators of CTD, officials of bomb disposal squad and heavy contingent of law-enforcement agencies, including the Pakistan Army rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area. They started collecting evidences. At least 10 cars and 14 bikes were also damaged in the incident.

A spokesperson for the CTD, while talking to the media after few hours of the blast, said: “According to initial investigation and opinion of the Bomb Disposal Squad, Z-Block DHA blast seems to have been made by some explosives. It will become clear later whether it was an IED timer or remote-control device. Whether the restaurant itself was target or the explosive went off in transit. Since building has collapsed, true picture will emerge later on. All evidence is being collected.”

Later on, the CTD claimed it was the result of accidental gas explosion, confirming it through the accounts of eyewitnesses and circumstantial evidence. The initial immature statement of CTD has created serious doubts as it was widely discussed that the security agencies have started hushing up the matter. It was also speculated that the explosive material was placed in the building for transit or for preparation of suicide jackets to target some high profile persons.

The incident created panic in the provincial metropolis. Most of the markets especially Z-Block and Y-Block markets of Defence were closed. The families and near-ones of victims rushed to the scene to know about the safety of their loved-ones. Panic gripped various parts of the city, especially Defence and Gulberg area. Later on, schools were closed down and the administrations of various educational institutions announced a holiday on Friday due to prevailing situation.

The guards of DHA also mounted pickets around the market and stopped free movement of citizens. Meanwhile, a rumour spread about another blast in Gulberg near Home Economics College. Law-enforcement agencies rushed to the scene but it proved to be a hoax.

CCPO Lahore Capt (R) Amin Wains said that no blast in Gulburg occurred. Media is requested to abstain from broadcasting and printing unauthentic news, he added. Lahore police also started combing operations after the blast. CCPO Lahore and DIG Operations also visited the scene and reviewed rescue and investigation process. The security was tightened at the sensitive installations and entry-exit points of the City.

  Agencies add: Provincial Minister for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education, Khwaja Salman Rafique and Provincial Minister for Primary Healthcare Khwaja Imran Nazir visited the hospitals to inquire after the injured of blast.

According to Online news agency, a time device, planted in the under-construction building parking, exploded. According to Bomb Disposal Squad sources, around 20-25 kilograms of explosives were used in the blast.

Punjab police spokesman Nayab Haider told Reuters the explosion was caused by a "planted bomb" that was either time- or remotely detonated. No one was allowed to leave or enter the area because the bomber was suspected to be at large, officials said.

Provincial Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan strongly condemned blast in DHA area. He said blast was the activity of a handful of coward and brutal elements. He expressed sympathies with the bereaved families and prayed for early recovery of the injured.

They directed the health authorities to provide the best medical treatment to the injured persons. Meanwhile, President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Balochistan CM Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri. They expressed sympathies with the bereaved families.