Officials stand outside the Imambargah where the blast took place. PHOTO: ONLINE
Rescue officials said that they had transported as many as 18 injured to hospitals
The blast took place outside Imambargah Aun Mohammad Rizvi in Chittian Hattian where a congregation was being held. The blast was powerful enough to destroy the Imambargah's gate, and inflict damage to houses near the site.
Express News correspondent Fahim Akhtar said that three to four ambulances had reached the area where the blast took place to evacuate the injured and dead. The victims had to be wheeled out on carts from the narrow lanes where the Imambargah is located.
They were taken DHQ hospital, Polyclinic and Benazir Hospital for treatment.
According to MS DHQ Dr Nasir, they had received 11 injured people of whom two are serious. Further, they had received five dead bodies.
A list of injured taken to DHQ by rescue workers included Faiza, 16; Mehak, 17; Hadi Shah, 25; Sikandar, 62; Fiaz, 38; Shahla, 35; Badar Alam, 40; Ibne Rizvi, 50; Haji Shah, 40; Ali Sikandar, 68; Mehdi Raza, 40; Nauman, 34; Ayaz Mehmood and Imran. Those taken to Benazir Bhutto Hospital include Shehbaz, Ismail, Syyad and Saeed.
Some of the the dead were identified as Qaim Ali, Ali Mehdi, and Javed Zaidi. Acting City Police Officer Haroon Joya said that the policeman killed in the attack had been identified as Constable Amanullah.
The CPO said that the nature of the blast has yet to be determined, and it would be too early to say whether the explosives were contained in a suicide vest, or the attacker had rammed an explosive-laden motorcycle into the Imambargah gate. Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer Umar Akhtar Hayyat Lalika, however, said that the explosion was the result of a planted device.
One witness said that when the bomber was stopped at the gate of the Imambargah, he detonated his explosives. Another added that soon after power failed in the area, the blast occurred.
Another witness said that they were sitting in the packed hall of the Imambargah, with 50-60 people including women and children, when the explosion took place.
One witness said that at the time of the blast, two policemen were deputed at the site who too had suffered injuries in the blast.
A local resident said cellular networks stopped working in the area soon after the blast.
The blast site is located in Raja Bazar, a densely populated area of Rawalpindi. Lal Haveli is also located in the same vicinity.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Punjab Governor have condemned the blast.
Shahbaz has also sought a report on the incident.
The Shia Ulema Council has called for three days of mourning following the attack.
COMMENTS (18)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Azam Khan: And your PM is a saint? LeJ is protected by PML-N. Hindu girls were kidnapped and forcibly converted in Sindh under rule of PPP. your PML-N govt gives aid from public treasury to JuD which is a terrorist organization. mr Singh only asked that Pakistan come out of denial and look within. The mastermind of Wagah attack was killed, was he a HIndu? or a Jew? no he was a muslim. A Pakistani national. Pointing fingers at India is as absurd as Jinnah lecturing Gandhiji about ill effects of Alcohol consumption, coz Gandhiji never consumed alcohol.
@Azam Khan: India can have 'n' number of consulates in Afghanistan, if the Afghan govt. allows. Because they are the only one whose permission is sought, and not of Pak govt.
@Azam Khan: India can have n number of consulates in Afghanistan if the Afghan govt. allows. Because they are the only one whose permission is sought, and not of Pak govt.
@Azam Khan: No, we are investing in real estate . If your intelligence is as good as you flaunt it to be , it should know what really happens there instead of the old scripts that they hand out . I am told even your movies are getting better with the scripts but not your agencies.
@TightPatloon: Everything is a conspiracy, The internet is a conspiracy, Pakistan is a conspiracy, India is a conspiracy,, Europe is a conspiracy, America is a conspiracy, Food is a conspiracy, water is a conspiracy, poverty is a conspiracy, food is a conspiracy, tv is a conspiracy, cell phones are a conspiracy, electricity is a conspiracy, towels are conspiracies, shoes are a conspiracy, animals are conspiracies, even people are conspiracies, Matter of fact the whole wide world is a big conspiracy against you. Happy? Now pick up that box of Clozaril your doctor prescribed you and shove it down your throat.
More muslims killing fellow muslims..
yaawwn
this is a conspiracyby CIA, RAW and MOSSAD
This has been going on forever. Saudi funded terrorism.
Just yesterday the legal heirs of sectarian killers have forgiven each other in front of the magistrate due to which sectarian killers could not be sent to gallows.
Now again, innocent people would be killed in the name of Shia and Sunni. Then what sence dies it make to spare the sectarian killers and pardon them off from after killing of innocent people.
Whether one is Shoa or Sunni, they are liable to be hanged by. All means for killing innocent people.
No mercy please at any cost and under any cirmtances. The terroris must be sent to gallows, no matter what.
Govt must voncuct trials to execute the condemned condemed priosioners..
Akram Lahori at works. Fruits of weak judiciary.
Punjab government has links with lashkare jhangvi.. Federal Government must took action against terrorism promoting madrsas and terrorist sympathizer
God knows when people will take off this blindfold from their eyes and will realize that we have a problem inside our own home. Until that happens, nothing will change. To correct a problem, one needs to first ACKNOWLEDGE that there is a problem.@TightPatloon:
@devindersingh: At time when we are fighting terrorism within our country, instead of consoling us you pass comments like that. Shame on you Mr. Singh. Go check the hands of your own Prime Minister that are stained with blood. By the way why does India have 11 consulates in Afghanistan along the border with Pakistan, do you distribute sweets there.
If only politicians get some time off their weddings and political wranglings could we focus on the issue of terrorism. Unfortunately, we as a nation are so much used to the bomb blasts that we forget these incidents after a few weeks and then wait for another one to happen. Peace is quickly vanishing from the earth.
@TightPatloon: And those anti-Islamic force are TTP/LJ/Al Qaeda/Lal-Masjid. This is what needs to be understood.
@TightPatloon: Are you being serious?
@TightPatloon: Just check you self bro and think with cool mind,I am sure you will have your answers, instead blaming here and there cia raw west then think and talk on public forum with intellectuals, gud luk
First Paris and now Pindi. Clearly this is a conspiracy by anti-Islam forces in carrying false flag operations and blaming Islam for this.