Imambargah attack: At PIMS, two survivors battle for life

Police diverted traffic from Islamabad Expressway to avoid rush

ISLAMABAD:

Terror revisited the twin cities’ Shia community on Wednesday evening when at least three people were killed and nine injured in an attack on an imambargah on Kuri Road, near the Islamabad Expressway.

Pims spokesperson Dr Ayesha Ihsani told The Express Tribune that of the five people brought to the hospital, two were dead on arrival, while another who was in critical condition has since died at the hospital.

She said Ghulam Hussain, 60, and Abdul Shakoor, 56, died at the site of incident, while Shakawat Hussain was critically wounded and died later. She added that the other injured were in stable condition. The hospital was put on high alert as soon as the blast was reported and all the doctors were called in and emergency declared, the hospital spokesperson added.

The hospital was not revealing the causes of death or the nature of injuries of the victims when this report was filed.

In view of the emergency situation, Pims has stocked up on blood bags of all groups and essential medicines, she added.

Meanwhile, a massive traffic jam was witnessed on all major roads linking with Kuri Road as the blast took place during rush hour, when people were going back home from their workplaces. The area around the blast site was sealed by security forces and people who had to go to or past the area had to wait for several hours before the roads were reopened.

The Islamabad Traffic Police blocked Islamabad Expressway from the Sector I-8 traffic signal and began diverting traffic on to Kashmir Highway.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2015.