LAHORE: At least 28 people including nine policemen were martyred when a suicide bomber targeted police picket here on Monday.
The DIG (Operations) Haider Ashraf said that the suicide bomber riding motorcycle rammed into a police picket in Sabzi Mandi at Ferozpur Road near Arfa Karim Tower when operation against encroachment was underway.
District Coordination Officer (DCO) Lahore, Sameer Ahmed said that nine policemen among 26 people were martyred in the blast and 49 others were injured.
At least 22 people have been martyred in a blast in the Ferozepur area of the provincial capital on Monday afternoon, confirmed DCO Lahore Sameer Ahmed.
Rescue personnel rushed the scene of the blast and started rescue operation.
The bodies and injured were shifted to different Lahore General Hospital (LGH), Jinnah Hospital and Ittefaq Hospital of Lahore. Emergency was declared in the hospitals. Condition of several wounded people was stated to be serious and it was feared that death toll could rise further.
The area was cordoned off by a heavy contingent of security forces and the section of the road was been sealed. Investigation in to the attack has been started.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, federal and provincial ministers, the provincial chief ministers and leaders of the political forces have strongly condemned the suicide blast. They condoled with the bereaved families, prayed for departed souls to rest in eternal peace and early recovery of those injured in the blast.
INP