25 killed, 53 injured in Pak blast

At least 26 people were killed and 53 others injured in a suspected suicide bombing on Ferozepur Road in Lahore city of Pakistan on Monday afternoon, a media report said.

Earlier, SP Imran Awan had confirmed that more than nine bodies were shifted to the hospital. At least three of the deceased people are policemen, he added, according to Dawn newspaper.

According to Awan, an anti-encroachment drive by Lahore Development Authority was underway in the area when the explosion took place. The anti-riot police officials were deployed for the drive.

The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed the bombing, stating that it used a 'motorcycle bomb' to target police officials in a suicide attack.

A CTD spokesperson confirmed that nine policemen were killed in the blast, which occurred at around 3:55pm. The injured included at least six policemen. Rescue 1122 teams shifted them to nearby hospitals, where an emergency was imposed.

Punjab government spokesperson Malik Mohammad Ahmed said the attack occurred at an old vegetable market in the Kot Lakhpat neighbourhood in Lahore. The area is a busy locality, with the office of the Punjab chief minister located nearby.

DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf said the blast was a "suicide attack" and that "police were the target".

Another police officer, Kashif Aslam, said the bombing targeted policemen who were providing security for the Lahore Development Authority, which was doing some demolition work targetting encroachments at an old building nearby. Anti-riot police had been deployed for the activity.

At least two vehicles, including one motorcycle, were reportedly damaged in the incident.

Police and other law enforcement personnel had reached the site of the incident soon after the bombing and cordoned off the area. Forensics teams had also collected evidence from the blast site to determine the nature of the explosion.

Condolences pour in

Condolences poured in following the blast. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif, Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa and others expressed their grief over the loss of lives in the blast.

Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, while talking to the media, said that the incumbent government has overcome the menace of terrorism by 70 to 80 per cent.

"We have started an operation against terrorist organisations and the situation is much better as compared to what it was in 2011-12," Sanaullah added.

Lahore has been targetted by terrorists in recent months. A suicide blast on February 13 had ripped through a camp of protesting chemists in front of the Punjab Assembly, leaving 13 people dead and 70 others wounded.

Last year, in a terrorist attack in Iqbal Park targeting those celebrating Easter, 72 people had died and over 300 had been injured.

Another blast, targeting a census team in April, had resulted in the deaths of six people, including five forces personnel.