Suicide terrorist attack martyrs 72 at Lal Shahbaz Qalander’s shrine
By Zeeshan Ghayur
Friday - February 17, 2017
HYDERABAD: A suicide bomber detonated his/her vest inside Sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar’s shrine at Sehwan in Sindh on Thursday, as devotees were busy observing ritual dance (dhamal), martyring 72, including women and children, while critically injuring over 249 innocents.
The injured were transported to nearby Jamshoro, Nawabshah, Hyderabad, Dadu, Sukkur and Karachi hospitals; the nearest hospital from the shrine is at a distance of at least 72 kilometres.
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS/Daesh) claimed responsibility for the cowardly act, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) claim that the suicide bomber came from terrorist havens in ‘Afghanistan’.
Army and Rangers medical teams arrived at the shrine to assist in the rescue efforts.
Apart from Edhi ambulances reaching the site, Pakistan Navy’s (PN) night flying helicopters along-with Pakistan Air Force (PAF) C130 plane was commissioned right away for the evacuation of all injured and their transportation to Hyderabad and Karachi hospitals.
The PN night flying helicopters lifted the injured from Lal Shahbaz Qalandar’s shrine and the C130 plane at Nawabshah airport transported them to Hyderabad and Karachi.
People from across the country make their way to the shrine on Thursdays whereat they observe rituals until Friday and leave only after having offered the Friday prayers.
ISPR in a statement said, “Recent terrorist acts are being executed on directions from hostile powers and from sanctuaries in Afghanistan” asserting “We shall defend and respond.”
ISPR added, “Pakistan-Afghanistan Border ‘closed’ with immediate effect till further orders due to security reasons.”
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa appealed the nation to stay calm. He held, “Your security forces shall not allow hostile powers to succeed. We stand for our nation.”
COAS General Qamar said, “Each drop of nation’s blood shall be revenged, and revenged immediately” declaring “No more restraint for anyone.”
Chief Justice (CJ) Mian Saqib Nisar strongly condemned the terrorist attack that claimed the lives of innocent citizens, besides causing injuries to many people.
CJ Saqib offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for speedy recovery of injured people.
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