LAHORE, May 08 (INP): At least ten people, including five elite force personnel, a security guard and four civilians, were martyred and 25 others sustained critical injuries on Wednesday morning in an alleged suicide attack targeting vehicles of police elite force near the entrance gate for female visitors to the 11th-century Data Darbar (shrine) in Lahore.

Talking to media Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Arif Nawaz confirmed that the blast was suicide in nature as they found remains of the bomber.

[timed-content-server show="05/09/2019 01:00 Asia/Karachi"]He said the bomber targeted elite force vehicle deployed at gate no 2 of the Data Darbar, resulting in death of ten people and injuries to the score. Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 officials and police officers rushed to the spot along with a heavy convoy of police forces, and began rescue operation and investigation, respectively. The injured persons were shifted to hospitals, where an emergency has been imposed, for their treatment. Some of the patients were said to be critical. Many wounded persons were shifted to the Mayo Hospital. Two out of five elite force personnel who lost their lives in the blast were identified as Shahid and Saleem, said rescue sources. According to initial police reports, the explosion took place close to police vehicles near Gate 2 of the shrine. One of the vehicles was completely destroyed. Hundreds of Muslims were at the Data Darbar as the country marks the holy month of Ramazan. According to sources, the police’s elite force was made the target of the blast. Police have cordoned off the site of the attack and sealed all entry points to the Data Darbar in the aftermath of the blast. Earlier, DIG Operations Lahore Ashfaq Ahmad Khan had confirmed three police officials died in the blast. A security guard and a resident were also among the dead. At least 25 people are being treated for injuries, some of whom are in critical condition, he added. Talking to talking to media persons he said their teams are working on evaluating the incident. “We will bring assailants to justice,” he said, while vowing to continue crackdown against militants across the province. “All departments including the Counter Terrorism Department are working. We won’t spare any efforts for the security of the citizens,” he added. The forensic staff has begun collecting evidence from the blast site. Moreover, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has strongly condemned the attack, and sought a report from the Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the additional chief secretary of interior. He has also summoned a high-level meeting at the Punjab Safe City Headquarters and cancelled his scheduled visits to Bhakkar, Sargodha and Sheikhupura. Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has also decried the attack, and sought an immediate report from the concerned authorities. The premier has commiserated with the bereaved families and directed authorities concerned to provide best possible medical treatment to those injured in the blast. President Arif Alvi strongly condemning the blast in Lahore has deplored the loss of precious lives in the incident. He said those involved in such despicable incident in the holy month of Ramadan are misguided elements. Special Assistant to Prime Minster on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has also strongly condemned the Data Darbar blast. In a statement issued here from Islamabad, she said those who target shrines are enemies of Islam and Pakistan and they are conspiring to stoke destabilization in the country. Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar also condemned the suicide attack They expressed profound grief and sorrow over loss of precious lives in incident and expressed sympathy with bereaved families. Moreover, Speaker National Assembly, Asad Qaiser, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, former president Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Jamait-e-Islami Chief, Sirajul Haq, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president, Shehbaz Sharif and other political leaders have strongly condemned the cowardly attack and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls. INP/LK/AJ[/timed-content-server]