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Sixth
terror attack in City
By
Salman Aslam
LAHORE
THE suicide attack on the Jamia
Naeemia in the Garhi Shahu area on Friday was the sixth terror
incident in the provincial metropolis during the current year. This
time a religious place was hit and a renowned Islamic scholar was
targeted and killed.
Earlier, the attackers had targeted
Sri Lankan cricketers and policemen in separate attacks carried out
in broad daylight in the provincial metropolis besides two theatres
and juice shops were also hit.
In all the six incidents, no less
than 48 people, including a colonel, a renowned Islamic Scholar Dr
Sarfraz Hussain Naeemi, and 29 policemen lost their lives. No less
than five terrorists blew themselves up in the said acts of
terrorism.
Just 17 days back, suicide bombers
detonated a vehicle loaded with 100 kg explosives near offices of
the capital city police officer and the Inter-Services Intelligence
in Lahore killing at least 27 people and injuring 326 others,
besides destroying a two-storey building of Rescue 15. An ISI
colonel and 15 police officials were among those killed. Witnesses
said the attack occurred in the morning when two gunmen stepped out
of a white van, which had pulled up in a narrow street separating
the police and ISI buildings, cautioned civilians to take cover, and
started firing at security personnel deployed there. The attackers
also hurled a grenade at the security personnel. As the firing
continued, the driver managed to cross the concrete barrier, but
could not get further and he blew up the vehicle there.
Police said the terrorist in the
vehicle was shot, which prompted him to blow up the vehicle about a
hundred feet away from the intended target, in front of the Rescue
15 building.
On March 30, eight police recruits
and a civilian were killed when a group of 10 terrorists attacked
the Police Training Centre, Manawan, with guns and grenades. The
security forces regained control of the facility in an operation
that lasted for more than eight hours.
About 93 cadets and civilians were
injured in the incident. Police said one of the attackers was
arrested, another was able to flee after being hit by a bullet and
three blew themselves up to avoid arrest.
On March 3, Sri Lankan cricketers
narrowly escaped a terror attack when terrorists ambushed their bus
on the way to the Gaddafi Stadium for the third day’s play of the
second test match.
At least seven people, six policemen
escorting the Sri Lankans and the driver of another van in the
convoy were killed and 20 others were wounded in the attack near the
Liberty roundabout, 500 metres from the stadium. Seven Sri Lankan
players were among the wounded. Two of them, Thilan Samaraweera and
Tharanga Paranavithana, were hospitalised for a few hours. The other
injured players were the team skipper Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar
Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilina Thushara and Suranga Lokumal.
All of them escaped with minor injuries. A British coach, Paul
Farbrace, and a Pakistani umpire, Ahsan Raza, were also injured in
the attack.
On January 9, five explosions
occurred at two theatres in the City. However, no casualty was
reported. Four low-intensity bombs exploded in the main electricity
supply control room of the Al-Falah Theatre at around 8:20 pm while
a high-intensity bomb exploded at the Tamasil Theatre at around
10:30 pm at Mozang Chungi. A suspect was arrested from the premises
of Al-Falah, who was taken to the Civil Lines police station for
interrogation.
Police said religious fanatics who
opposed the cultural activities carried out the attacks “which can
be considered part of a series starting from juice shops at Garhi
Shahu and later targeting Alhamra Cultural Complex.
The group
believed that such places were centres of anti-Islamic activities
and spread obscenity, they said.
The
News: Saturday, June 13, 2009
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