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Investigation team rules out LeJ’s involvement
The Punjab government has ruled out the involvement of banned militant outfit LeJ in Wednesday's blasts.
A policeman looks towards the wreckage of burnt motor bikes near the site of a bomb blast, which took place during a Shiite Muslim procession on Wednesday. PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE: The Punjab government has ruled out the involvement of banned militant outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al-Alami’s in Wednesday’s blasts, officials told The Express Tribune.
“Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) has only claimed responsibility in an attempt to keep itself in the eye of the media,” said SP Umer Virk from the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA). “LeJ’s leadership and main men have either been killed or are in jails.”
The provincial government has constituted a two-member committee, comprising the SSP investigation and SP CIA, to investigate the suicide attacks that killed 37 people and injured 250. According to Mayo Hospital’s management 27 bodies have been identified.
Virk said that one attacker was 22 years old and seemed to hail from Afghanistan, while the other one might be from South Punjab.
He said that they have been drawing a long-term strategy against extremism and that the police was likely to launch a big operation against militants within the next 24 to 48 hours.
Sources in the police department told The Express Tribune that police officials were not clear about how to deal with the Sipah-e-Sahaba or the LeJ because they have yet to form a strategy against these outfits. Sources said that there is chaos in the police department because of a lack of a solid policy or plan.
When contacted, DIG Operations Lahore Rao Sardar Ali Khan admitted that the police does not have a
counter-strategy but he said that they would launch a proper operation against militants.
SP investigations of the city division Ejaz Shafi Dogar told The Express Tribune that these outfits did not have an organised structure or a base camp anywhere. “Young suicide attackers are like misguided missiles and do not have any philosophy or a roadmap before them,” he said, adding that police had its work cut out when it came to eliminating militancy from the society.
SP operations of the city division Faisal Gulzar said that he could not divulge the police’s strategy against militancy or banned outfits but said that stern action would be taken against banned organisations immediately.
The blasts took place in Lahore on Wednesday, when three suicide bombers targeted a mourning procession to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Ali (RA). Thousands of mourners were opening their fast near Karbala Gamay Shah. The blasts, two of which the police confirmed were suicide attacks, took place in a span of 20 minutes despite what appeared to be tight police security.
A public holiday was announced in the city, DCO Sajjad Bhutta said. A congregational funeral was held at Nasir Bagh amid tight security arrangements for nine people who were killed in the attacks. The prayers were led by Agha Haider Ali Mousavi.
Almost all parts of the city, particularly the area near Lower Mall, remained deserted on Thursday. The Traders Alliance and the Shia Action Committee have announced a three-day mourning.
EDO Health Lahore Dr Khalid Ranjha said that wounded people were taken to the Ganga Ram, Mayo and Civil Service hospitals. Most were given first aid and sent home, while 127 were still under treatment. Many were shifted to other wards. Seventy-seven people are still under treatment in Mayo, 32 in Ganga Ram, four in General Hospital and 14 in Services Hospital.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2010.
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Reader Comments (10)
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Police department must revise their role in the society. To me, Police dept. is responsible for the incident in Lahore, Karachi and Multan. If they’ were not able to supply foolproof security to public, they could stop these people to gather for procession on Yum-e-Ali.
I think, Government must assure security of public else put ban on processions and all other types gathering of public.
Pakistani corrupt and non-illegible governors have putted nation on fire.Recommend
Both Shia/Sunni Leaders blame Rana Sanaullah for supporting Terrorist of Data Darbar Blast and Lahore Blast. But Punjab Government doesn’t have will to change this.Recommend
Mr illiyas…please dont ask for BAN on shitte processions…because such are the requirements of shitte enemies.. that shitte stop performing their religion with freedom.. now if these processions will be stoped then Pakistan is no place to live for shitte muslims..please dont make a situation like 1973. I think everything will be controlled, if taliban elements are excluded from each part of govt…but if your provincial minister is a friend of talibans.. and your chief minister also told talibans that punjab govt is not enemy of talibans.. then in that situation.. how could these blasts be stopped..Recommend
Dr. Fayyaz, Talibans may not involve in these blasts because Shiya & Sunni Jammats are killing each other since very long. We have seen of S.S. and LeJ continuously targeting Shiya jamat. Talibans name come first to all of us, because they are prime terrorist today in list of Pakistan.
Talibans who’re found by US, today fighting against US in Afghanistan and Iraq. Pakistan Taliban Movement is forced to go back.
By Grace of ALLAH, Pakistan is blessed with multiple militant organizations who are killing each other.
Sunni, are also targeting and Shiya is on fire today because of terrorist.
I object police department, who are failed to provide security to public. We all know, they haven’t did any home work for security on Youm-e-ali.
I didn’t ask for permanent ban on these type of activities of shiya, but needs a temporary ban on gathering public in large number to a single place to avoid innocents killings.
I didn’t ask for ban on religious activities only.
Hope you and viewers understand my views on blasts and responsible departments.Recommend
Very strange, when the Lashkr Jhangvi is claiming responsibility of these suicide attacks why Punjab government and the Police is providing shield. These statements show that Punjab government and police are equally responsible for this mayhem. There are certain examples when the terrorists of banned outfits (Taliban and Lashkr Jhangvi) were arrested, were caught red handed and later they were released by the Courts. This proves that Punjab government and the courts in connivance of each other have decided to root out Sunni and Shia people.Recommend
They are trying to bailout Rana Sanaullah by doing thisRecommend
A 22 yr old bomber is a rare attribute. Does this mean there is a change in strategy of the terrorist? Earlier they were preparing just the teens. If 22 is the case means their age range is increasing and so would their quantity of bombers.Recommend
Mr. Ilyas, please!!! Stop defending the Sharif’s & blaming the Governor. Your beloved Sharif’s have always been close to these people, Nawaz took money from Osama to topple Benazir, his current law minister is rubbing shoulders with banned outfit & his brother (CM) is professing to these people that they share the same ideology more or less on national TV & to not to harm Punjab, what kind of crap is that?
You say stop the procession, then a while latter you will say, kick out all non-Muslim Pakistani’s from Pakistan & then you will say shut down TV, Music & go back to 6th century living, because that’s what these fundos want us to do?
I have a sunni father & a shia mother, I am of the opinion that everyone is been giving the right to practice their religion & rituals in the manner that is not coming in the way of the other, that is the basis of Pakistan & the civil way.
If you don’t like it, shift to Afghanistan…….and please do take along the Sharifs & Imran Khan as well for company, because believe you me we will be much much better off, infact prosper without these kind of people.Recommend
I wonder why Lashker-e-Jhangvi was ruled out as a suspect in the preliminary investigations. The claim that LEJ has been rendered useless absolutely false for their members is still active in southern Punjab and is collecting funds! It is high time that the authorities look into the ground realitiesRecommend
“Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) has only claimed responsibility in an attempt to keep itself in the eye of the media,” said SP Umer Virk from the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA). “LeJ’s leadership and main men have either been killed or are in jails.”
The above lines need to read with open eyes. I totally agree with the above point made by govt. our real forign enemies want our people to believe like u guys are thinking right now means that they are getting their objectives. Any body doing these activities if they call themselves muslims dont worry InshALLAH wont get jannat for it. And about the taking of responsibility of Lej or SS or taliban have you guys ever ponder that what is our source of info just tv news, papers or internet? who are dominating these sources? can we authenticate these type of responsibilities by ourselves? Absolutely NOT. I would like to qoute a hadith here(mafhoom not exact)
Hazarat MUHAMMAD (PBUH) ne farmaya… kisi ke jhoota hone ke lye itna he kafi hai ke wo koi baat sune aur baghair tehqeeq ke us baat ko agay phela day.Recommend