56 killed, over 200 injured in suicide blast in Lahore park

Lahore, March 27

At least 56 people, including women and children, enjoying Easter holiday at a popular public park, were killed and over 200 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, capital of Punjab province, on Sunday.

A large number of people, including Christians, were present in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park when the blast occurred in the evening, leaving many in a pool of blood.

"It was a powerful blast. It is suspected that suicide bomber blew himself up at the main gate of the park," Deputy Inspector General, Lahore Police, Haider Asharaf said. He said about 8-10 kg of explosive might have been used in the blast.

District Coordination Officer Lahore retired Capt Muhammad Usman said: "At least 56 people have been killed and over 126 injured in the blast."

He, however, ruled out that Christians were the target of the attack. "It was not a Christian park. Christians may be among the dead."

Punjab minister Bilal Yasin said over 200 people have been injured in the blast. "The death toll may rise as a number of injured are in critical condition," he said.

An official of the Punjab police told PTI that the suicide bomber -- believed to be in his 20s -- managed to enter the park and blew himself up near the swings. "It appears that the suicide bomber's main target were children," he said.

The park is located in a posh locality in the city, which is comparatively peaceful in violence-hit Pakistan.

Eyewitnesses said there were scattered body parts in the park, where a large number of families, especially women and children, were present on a Sunday evening. The crowd was "unusually large" because of Easter.

"Still a good number of people are in critical condition," said Punjab Emergency Services Rescue 1122 spokesperson Deeba Shahnaz.

Over 100 injured have been shifted to different hospitals of Lahore, she said. Doctors said the death toll may rise.

Emergency has been declared in all city hospitals in Lahore. Appeals have also been made to people to donate blood for the injured.

Children and women are among the dead. "My two children were on the swing when a powerful blast occurred. The children and I fell on the ground. I was semi-unconscious. When I fully regained consciousness, I ran to find my children. Thank God, they were alive and have injuries on their head," one of the victims, Saleem Shahid, said at Mayo Hospital.

A heavy contingent of police has cordoned off the area.

Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation of 190 million people, is plagued by a Taliban insurgency, criminal gangs and sectarian violence. Punjab is its biggest and wealthiest province.

In 2014, Pakistan launched an offensive against Taliban and affiliated jihadist fighters in North Waziristan, seeking to deprive them of safe havens from which to launch attacks in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Punjab has traditionally been more peaceful than other parts of Pakistan. Sharif's opponents have accused him of tolerating militancy in return for peace in his province, a charge he strongly denies.

Last year, a bomb killed a popular Pakistani provincial minister and at least eight others when it destroyed the minister's home in Punjab.

PM Modi condemns blast

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the deadly suicide blast in Pakistan's Lahore and offered his condolences to the families of the deceased.

"Heard about the blast in Lahore. I strongly condemn it. My condolences to families of the deceased & prayers with the injured: PM," Modi tweeted from his PMO India account. — Agencies