Five injured, two CD shops damaged in two bomb blasts
At least five persons were injured and two shops in busiest music and CD markets on Hall Road were damaged when two low-intensity explosive devices exploded in Lahore, capital city of Punjab province on Saturday, June 26, 2010.
According to press report the two blasts, which took place 10 minutes apart, triggered panic among shopkeepers and customers who ran for their lives. Civil Lines Superintendent of police (SP) Dr Haider Ashraf said the first explosion took place on the first floor of Zaitoon Plaza at about 6.40pm. The second blast was of less intensity than the first one, he said.
Five persons including two salesmen, Muhammad Atif, Muhammad Ashiq, and three others, Ali Zaib, Muhammad Yaqoob and Usman Iqbal, got minor injuries when pieces of shattered windowpanes hit them. Injured were taken to Mayo Hospital, and discharged late in the night.
An unfamiliar outfit namely “Nazria Pakistan” has accepted the responsibility for carrying out the blasts to warn the CD traders to stop the business.
The president of the Hall Road Traders’ Association told journalists that most traders had informed him that they had received threatening phone calls and text messages from unknown militants and were asked to stop the CD businesses. They had informed the police about these threats. The callers had asked them to stop selling Western movies and “objectionable CDs” describing it as “dirty business”. However, the traders’ leader said that they would not be cowed down by militants. According to a local trader, almost 200 shops of CDs had been established in the said market and these blasts occurred in front of these shops.
Police cordoned off the area and did not allow people to get to the area who rushed to Hall road. Rescue teams after thorough search of the plaza declared the area safe. Power supply was also suspended to the market immediately and shop owners closed their shops. Glasses of some shops and vehicles standing in close vicinity were broken.
Police believed the explosions had been carried out by extremists who earlier targeted some cultural events in the city. They said the blasts were aimed at sowing fear among people who were associated with cultural activities and businesses. A criminal complaint had been lodged against unidentified people on behalf of the state.
Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Date:6/28/2010
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