20 dead, 30 injured in suicide blast near CM’s residence in Lahore

A suicide blast near the residence and office of Pakistan’s Punjab province Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore on Monday killed at least 20 people, including policemen, and wounded 30.

Lahore police chief Capt (R) Amin Wains said the “target of blast was police.” He also confirmed that it was a suicide blast.

“Police and the Lahore Development Authority officials were busy in removing encroachments outside the Arfa Karim Tower, located near the Chief Minister’s Model Town residence, when a powerful blast took place,” Rescue 1122 official Deeba Shahnaz told PTI.

Rescue teams shifted the injured to hospital and emergency was declared in city hospitals. “The condition of several injured is stated to be critical,” the official said. The Chief Minister, who is also the brother of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was in a meeting at his Model Town office during the blast.

Citing police sources, Geo News reported that a suicide attacker targeted police personnel deployed at the site. The area has been cordoned off by a heavy contingent of security forces and the section of the road sealed. In April this year, six people were killed and 15 injured when a suicide bomber targeted a population census team in Lahore’s Bedian Road.