Pakistan: at least 65 killed in Lahore blast, Taliban claims responsibility

[webfact]

Pakistan: at least 65 killed in Lahore blast, Taliban claims responsibility



LAHORE: -- A suicide bombing has killed at least 65 people, mostly women and children, in the Pakistani city of Lahore.

Local authorities said at least 280 more people have been injured and that they fear the death toll is likely to rise.

The Taliban faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar has claimed responsibility for the attack and said “Christians were the target.”

The explosion appears to have happened in the parking area at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park – a few metres from children’s swings.

The park had been particularly busy on Sunday evening due to the Easter holiday weekend.

Punjab, Pakistan’s largest and wealthiest province, is the political power base of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-03-28

[simple1]

To me it's incomprehensible how a suicide bomber can detonate in the sure knowledge of the mass murder of women and children. Come on Pakistan, utterly destroy these Taliban bastards.

[webfact]

Pakistani Taliban faction claims Easter park bombing
By ZARAR KHAN

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A breakaway Pakistani faction of the militant Taliban group has claimed responsibility for an Easter Sunday bombing that killed 65 people in a park in the eastern city of Lahore that was crowded with Christians, including many children.

Ahsanullah Ahsan, spokesman for Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, told the Associated Press that a suicide bomber with the faction deliberately targeted the Christian community.

The explosion took place near the children's rides in Gulshan-e-Iqbal park local police chief Haider Ashraf said. He said the explosion appeared to have been a suicide bombing, but investigations were ongoing.

The attack killed 65 people and wounded over 300, said Deeba Shahnaz, a spokesman for Lahore rescue administration.

Punjab's chief minister Shahbaz Sharif announced three days of mourning and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice, said Zaeem Qadri, a spokesman for the provincial government.

The park was manned by police and private security guards, police chief Haider Ashraf said. "We are in a warlike situation and there is always a general threat but no specific threat alert was received for this place," he added.

Schools and businesses in the city will remain closed on Monday, the city's schools association and the Union of Lahore Traders said.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a meeting to assess the security situation in Lahore, according to a government statement. Pakistan's army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, also convened an emergency meeting of the country's intelligence agencies to begin to track down those responsible for the attacks, said army spokesman Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa.

Salman Rafiq, a health adviser to the Punjab government, called on people to donate blood, saying that many of those wounded were in a critical condition.

One witness, who wished to be identified only by his first name, Afzal, told AP that he had taken 20 children to hospital and carried three dead bodies to a police car. "I can't explain to you the tragic situation," he said.

Another witness, Tariq Mustapha, said that he had just left the park when he heard an explosion. He said his friend was still missing.

Footage broadcast on local television stations showed chaotic scenes in the park, with people running while carrying children and cradling the wounded in their laps.

A witness, not identified by name on Pakistan's Geo TV station, said he was heading toward a fairground ride with his wife and two children when he heard a huge bang and all four of them were thrown to the floor. A woman was shown crying while looking desperately for her missing 5-year-old son.

A spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council said that the United States "condemns the attack in the strongest terms," describing it as a "cowardly act in what has long been a scenic and placid park." Ned Price said the U.S. would continue to work with Pakistan and its partners to "root out the scourge of terrorism."

Vikas Swarup, spokesman for India's External Affairs ministry, tweeted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif to express his deep condolences. He said Modi "underlined the need for uncompromising efforts to fight against terrorism."
____

Associated Press writers Zaheer Babar in Lahore, Pakistan, Ishtiaq Mahsud in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan and Ashok Sharma in New Delhi contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-03-28

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.

[canuckamuck]

Pure Evil.

[SgtRock]

To me it's incomprehensible how a suicide bomber can detonate in the sure knowledge of the mass murder of women and children. Come on Pakistan, utterly destroy these Taliban bastards.

It is fairly easy to comprehend when they have been indoctrinated from birth that these are not really people.

It will be pretty hard to wipe them out in Pakistan when a large % of your Internal Security Services actively support, and in some cases are members of these scumbags.

Another atrocity carried out in the name of the Religion of Pieces.

[Steely Dan]

Every single Easter we get the mass slaughter of Christians by Muslim extremists, it was a church in Nigeria a couple of years ago. I hope the press give this the prominence it warrants.

[bassman]

Every single Easter we get the mass slaughter of Christians by Muslim extremists, it was a church in Nigeria a couple of years ago. I hope the press give this the prominence it warrants.

Sure wish the press would condemn this horrible act of religious genocide, but with all the "bad news" available to bash the west doubt if it will get much mention.

Don't think CNN will spend the next week there creating hype, particularly since this in not a country run predominantly by Christians or Jews. Naw, they would rather spend the time covering a terrorist killer in Israel put down by a soldier, or the march of nationalists in Belgium falsely labeled as Neo-Nazi by mainstream media, who carry a Belgian flag (not Nazi) and whose banner reads "casuals against ISIS".

[mesterm]

God saves.

[Ulic]

The Pakistan government could not give a rats ass. It was Christians who were targeted

as they have been for over a decade. Most have been killed or left the country.

[Avrock]

Before I start with my views my condolences for the victims & their families..it's an extremely tragic incident...

Having said this I'm writing this hoping it might change someone's perception on what's happening..I've read people posting that they were Christians who were targeted..it might be true to some extent for the yesterday's blast but it was a public park many Muslims were present there as well..these kind of attacks are quite common & the terrorists do it without distinction of men women or children..people please know that the majority of victims of these terrorist attacks have been Muslims we have suffered the most being the allies..no one hate these low life terrorists as much as we do...Pakistan is conducting a very successful war on terror under the COAS..the army has been successful in clearing the tribal belt near the Afghan border & they are moving onwards swiftly ..I hope the west see these efforts & sacrifices & recognize it because in times of global intolerance we need people to bring hope..hope for a better world for all..thanks

Edited March 28, 2016 by Avrock

[tartempion]

An other sad day in history of mankind.

[simple1]

Before I start with my views my condolences for the victims & their families..it's an extremely tragic incident...

Having said this I'm writing this hoping it might change someone's perception on what's happening..I've read people posting that they were Christians who were targeted..it might be true to some extent for the yesterday's blast but it was a public park many Muslims were present there as well..these kind of attacks are quite common & the terrorists do it without distinction of men women or children..people please know that the majority of victims of these terrorist attacks have been Muslims we have suffered the most being the allies..no one hate these low life terrorists as much as we do...Pakistan is conducting a very successful war on terror under the COAS..the army has been successful in clearing the tribal belt near the Afghan border & they are moving onwards swiftly ..I hope the west see these efforts & sacrifices & recognize it because in times of global intolerance we need people to bring hope..hope for a better world for all..thanks

From my reading I agree the Pakistani government has been targeting the various Islamic terror groups and sadly a large number of military / security personnel have lost their lives in the effort. On the other side of the coin the Taliban splinter group who carried out the attack have specifically claimed they were targeting Christians celebrating Easter as well as attempting to destabilise the current PM. As you probably know the PM has declared three days of national morning to recognise the victims and families. However, Christians are officially discriminated against by way of the Pakistani Constitution.

[Avrock]

Before I start with my views my condolences for the victims & their families..it's an extremely tragic incident...

Having said this I'm writing this hoping it might change someone's perception on what's happening..I've read people posting that they were Christians who were targeted..it might be true to some extent for the yesterday's blast but it was a public park many Muslims were present there as well..these kind of attacks are quite common & the terrorists do it without distinction of men women or children..people please know that the majority of victims of these terrorist attacks have been Muslims we have suffered the most being the allies..no one hate these low life terrorists as much as we do...Pakistan is conducting a very successful war on terror under the COAS..the army has been successful in clearing the tribal belt near the Afghan border & they are moving onwards swiftly ..I hope the west see these efforts & sacrifices & recognize it because in times of global intolerance we need people to bring hope..hope for a better world for all..thanks

From my reading I agree the Pakistani government has been targeting the various Islamic terror groups and sadly a large number of military / security personnel have lost their lives in the effort. On the other side of the coin the Taliban splinter group who carried out the attack have specifically claimed they were targeting Christians celebrating Easter as well as attempting to destabilise the current PM. As you probably know the PM has declared three days of national morning to recognise the victims and families. However, Christians are officially discriminated against by way of the Pakistani Constitution.

The constitution in theory does protect the minority rights but I won't deny that the minorities do face discrimination to some extent but they do have representation in the Parliament & there's a quota reserved for them in the services as well.. the system on the other hand is a whole different story..the younger generation is becoming more aware of their rights & the rights of their fellow human beings..people now know that we face a menace & we have to take care of it & it is being taken care off..

[simple1]

Before I start with my views my condolences for the victims & their families..it's an extremely tragic incident...

Having said this I'm writing this hoping it might change someone's perception on what's happening..I've read people posting that they were Christians who were targeted..it might be true to some extent for the yesterday's blast but it was a public park many Muslims were present there as well..these kind of attacks are quite common & the terrorists do it without distinction of men women or children..people please know that the majority of victims of these terrorist attacks have been Muslims we have suffered the most being the allies..no one hate these low life terrorists as much as we do...Pakistan is conducting a very successful war on terror under the COAS..the army has been successful in clearing the tribal belt near the Afghan border & they are moving onwards swiftly ..I hope the west see these efforts & sacrifices & recognize it because in times of global intolerance we need people to bring hope..hope for a better world for all..thanks

From my reading I agree the Pakistani government has been targeting the various Islamic terror groups and sadly a large number of military / security personnel have lost their lives in the effort. On the other side of the coin the Taliban splinter group who carried out the attack have specifically claimed they were targeting Christians celebrating Easter as well as attempting to destabilise the current PM. As you probably know the PM has declared three days of national morning to recognise the victims and families. However, Christians are officially discriminated against by way of the Pakistani Constitution.

The constitution in theory does protect the minority rights but I won't deny that the minorities do face discrimination to some extent but they do have representation in the Parliament & there's a quota reserved for them in the services as well.. the system on the other hand is a whole different story..the younger generation is becoming more aware of their rights & the rights of their fellow human beings..people now know that we face a menace & we have to take care of it & it is being taken care off..

From memory it was ul-Huq, in his compromises with the hardliners, to minimise push back against his dictatorship that set the tone of Islamic extremism in Pakistan. You will know at least one minority, Christians, are restricted in their promotional advancement in the armed forces that I understand is documented in the Constitution and, for example, blasphemy laws used for oppression.

I wish the current and future generations of Pakistan every success to overcome extremism, corruption, provide secular education for the poor & eventual transformation of it's society.

Edited March 29, 2016 by simple1

[Steely Dan]

Before I start with my views my condolences for the victims & their families..it's an extremely tragic incident...

Having said this I'm writing this hoping it might change someone's perception on what's happening..I've read people posting that they were Christians who were targeted..it might be true to some extent for the yesterday's blast but it was a public park many Muslims were present there as well..these kind of attacks are quite common & the terrorists do it without distinction of men women or children..people please know that the majority of victims of these terrorist attacks have been Muslims we have suffered the most being the allies..no one hate these low life terrorists as much as we do...Pakistan is conducting a very successful war on terror under the COAS..the army has been successful in clearing the tribal belt near the Afghan border & they are moving onwards swiftly ..I hope the west see these efforts & sacrifices & recognize it because in times of global intolerance we need people to bring hope..hope for a better world for all..thanks

From my reading I agree the Pakistani government has been targeting the various Islamic terror groups and sadly a large number of military / security personnel have lost their lives in the effort. On the other side of the coin the Taliban splinter group who carried out the attack have specifically claimed they were targeting Christians celebrating Easter as well as attempting to destabilise the current PM. As you probably know the PM has declared three days of national morning to recognise the victims and families. However, Christians are officially discriminated against by way of the Pakistani Constitution.

The constitution in theory does protect the minority rights but I won't deny that the minorities do face discrimination to some extent but they do have representation in the Parliament & there's a quota reserved for them in the services as well.. the system on the other hand is a whole different story..the younger generation is becoming more aware of their rights & the rights of their fellow human beings..people now know that we face a menace & we have to take care of it & it is being taken care off..

From memory it was ul-Huq, in his compromises with the hardliners, to minimise push back against his dictatorship that set the tone of Islamic extremism in Pakistan. You will know at least one minority, Christians, are restricted in their promotional advancement in the armed forces that I understand is documented in the Constitution and, for example, blasphemy laws used for oppression.

I wish the current and future generations of Pakistan every success to overcome extremism, corruption, provide secular education for the poor & eventual transformation of it's society.

The same dynamic of monarchs or other autocrats making concessions to religious extremists has plagued the Muslim world. If there is a will to tackle the problem Muslim Countries are able to do so in a way Western democracies can't. I mean the systematic killing of terrorists and their sympathizers in large numbers, I believe the toll was 100,000 deaths when Algeria did so. Of course you don't need the UN, NGO's or the press intervening in support of the terrorists, as they unwittingly or otherwise seem to,do.

P.s For the first time in years I see real hope this may be happening, alas in Europe I see things getting worse for the reasons I mentioned.

Edited March 29, 2016 by Steely Dan

[JemJem]

Gees ! http://news.yahoo.com/pakistan-protesters-refuse-end-islamabad-sit-005953734.html

Shortly after the horrific Lahore massacre and shortly after the government vowed to take revenge, what is done instead is unfortunately giving in to Islamists' demands.

Sad and annoying !