PHOTO: Express
The IGP, officers and DG Rangers laid a floral wreath on the body of the martyred constable. He will be buried with a guard of honour in his native town Kasur.
Also, the funeral prayers of three members of a family were held on Thursday. Deceased Mushtaq Ahmad, Rafiq Ahmad and Ahmad Rafiq, residents of Multan, were among those killed outside Data Darbar. The bodies were shifted from Lahore to Multan late on Wednesday night and were laid to rest at a local graveyard. Their funeral prayer was held at Basti Jhanday Wala.
Punjab Minister for Energy Dr Akhtar Malik, MPAs, Deputy Commissioner Amir Khatak and other district government and police officials attended the funeral, along with a large number of locals.
Terror revisits Data Darbar in holy month
Resolution submitted
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Hina Pervez Butt submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly to demand financial aid for the families of those killed in the suicide blast outside Data Darbar on Wednesday.
It was pointed out that Rafaqat Ali, one of the deceased, was the father of three daughters and the Punjab Auqaf Department had not paid his salary for the last four months. According to the resolution, no government official attended Ali’s funeral. The resolution demanded that the government also take responsibility for Ali’s daughters and pay for their education and other expenses.
CM visits victims
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar visited the people injured in the Data Darbar blast and inquired after their health at Mayo Hospital on Thursday.
He visited the patients individually and prayed for their early recovery. He also presented financial assistance cheques to them. The severely wounded were given Rs500,000 cheques each while those with minor injuries were presented Rs100,000.
The chief minister directed the administration to provide every possible treatment facility to the wounded. He appreciated the performance of medical staff, saying doctors really extremely hard for the treatment of the injured.
Buzdar said all the sympathies of the government were with the wounded. He appreciated their courage and said cowardly enemies could not face the Pakistani nation. He said the war against terror would be won with the support of people.
Talking to the media, the chief minister said doctors were providing the best treatment and care facilities to the patients. Replying to a question, he said an investigation into the blast was underway and hoped that the culprits would be exposed soon. “People will be informed about the attackers after completion of investigation,” he added.
Death toll of Data Darbar blast rises to 11
To another question, Buzdar said that he planned to visit Bhakkar, Sargodha and Sheikhupura districts, but postponed the trip due as the tragic incident at Data Darbar.
He said the Punjab government took immediate steps for the treatment of the injured and rescue activities were conducted well in time. The provincial health minister and also visited the injured at the hospital. Buzdar assured that authorities stood beside the affected people and they would not be left alone. The IGP, specialised healthcare and medical education secretary, DC, CCPO Lahore and others were present on the occasion.
Flag march
Meanwhile, Punjab Police Spokesperson Nayab Haider said a flag march was held in Lahore and all districts of Punjab in which all police officers and officials took part. The flag marches were led by district chiefs and other senior police officers. The motive was to maintain the morale of police and citizens after the gruesome Data Darbar attack.
Prior to the flag March, prayers were conducted for the martyrs of Punjab Police and it was stressed that their sacrifices would never go in vain.
With additional input from APP
Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2019.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ