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ASIA PACIFIC

Explosion at Park in Lahore, Pakistan,

Kills Dozens
By SALMAN MASOOD

MARCH 27, 2016

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan A powerful blast ripped through a public park in the

eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Sunday evening, killing at least 69 people and
wounding around 300, including many children, rescue workers and officials
said.
The blast, which appeared to be caused by a suicide bomber, occurred in a
parking lot at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, one of the largest parks in Lahore, said
Haider Ashraf, a senior police official in Lahore.
Jamaat-e-Ahrar, a splinter faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed
responsibility for the blast. Its spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan, said Christians
were the target.
It was also to give a message to government that it cannot deter us even in
their stronghold, Lahore, the group quoted Mr. Ehsan as saying in a message to
The New York Times. Lahore, the capital of Punjab Province, is the hometown of
Pakistans prime minister, Nawaz Sharif; his younger brother, Shahbaz Sharif, is
the chief minister of the province.
Even though Pakistani officials rebutted the claim that Christians were the
target, a large number of Christian families were in the park because of the Easter
holiday, the local news media reported. The 67-acre park has walking paths, as
well as rides for children.
Victims described a scene of chaos and devastation soon after the blast.

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I was standing near the roller coaster when the blast occurred, said a
10-year-old boy who gave his name as Usman and who was admitted to Shaikh
Zayed Hospital. I saw fire afterward. There were a lot of people in the park. It
was so crowded that people had to break the boundary wall near the gate to cross
over and run away.
I wish I hadnt brought my daughter to the park today, said Kamran Bhatti,
34, a frequent visitor to the park. This is the only recreation we can afford for
her. What is her fault?
He continued: While we were running out of the park, my daughter slipped
and rolled over. Shes injured, but I thank my God that we are not crying for a lost
child.
His daughter was being treated at Jinnah Hospital on Sunday night.
Yousaf Masih, 50, who said he is Christian, said: We came to the park after
the Easter church services. We brought our food basket along with us, and like
the usual outing on our festivals, we were spending our day.
There was a lot of rush due to Easter, Mr. Masih said, adding that a
majority of the people in that area of the park were Christian. My children were
playing cricket when we heard a huge blast on the main gate of the park. It was
mayhem. Everyone was running for their lives. On our way out, we saw the body
of the suicide bomber in the parking area.
Others said security at the park was lax.
There was no security, as such, at the gates, said Azhar Shah, 23, a student.
The guard sitting at the main gate was not checking anyone.
Mr. Ashraf, the police official, said of the park: It was a soft target. Innocent
women and children and visitors from other cities have been targeted.
He added, Apparently, it seems like a suicide attack.
The explosion coincided with violence in other parts of the country as
hundreds of protesters took to the streets to condemn the Feb. 29 execution of
Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri. Mr. Qadri killed Salmaan Taseer, a governor who
had campaigned for changes in the countrys blasphemy laws, in January 2011.
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Sunday was the 40th day since Mr. Qadris execution, a mourning
observance called Chaliswan in Pakistan, and drew his supporters into the streets
of a number of cities, including Rawalpindi, one of the countrys largest urban
areas. Mr. Taseer had tried to soften Pakistans blasphemy laws, which he said
had been used to persecute religious minorities. But to many in Pakistan, the idea
of altering the countrys blasphemy laws is itself criminal, and to his supporters
Mr. Qadri has become a revered figure.
Protesters clashed throughout the day with police officers in Islamabad, the
countrys capital, marching on the main avenues of the city and trying to force
their way into the Red Zone, a high-security area that includes the Parliament
building, the Supreme Court and many diplomatic missions. The police used tear
gas to disperse the protesters, but appeared to be overwhelmed by their numbers.
The protesters said they planned to hold a sit-in on Monday in front of the
Parliament building. Army troops were called in to secure government buildings.
A state of emergency was imposed on hospitals in Lahore after the blast.
Private television networks broadcast images of rescue workers and ambulances
rushing to the park and ferrying victims to hospitals. Distraught relatives milled
about in hospital corridors as the wounded were treated.
There was no prior intelligence report about the attack, Muhammad
Usman, the district coordination officer in Lahore, told reporters.
Mr. Usman also rebutted early reports that Christians had been targeted in
the blast. The park belongs to all, he was quoted as saying.
Mr. Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab, announced a three-day period of
mourning in the province.
Ihsanullah Tipu Mehsud contributed reporting from Islamabad, and Daniyal Hassan
and Naila Inayat from Lahore, Pakistan.

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