June 24, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 19, 1429

LAHORE, June 23: Four children were killed and three others injured when some explosives went off in a fireworks factory in the Kahna area on Monday, say police and rescuers.

Suneel, 10, Rizwan, 10, Asif Ali, 12, and Asif, 14, were working in the factory situated on Shahzad Road, Abdullah Town.

The explosion highlights the inefficiency of law-enforcers to curb fireworks manufacturing despite the fact the Punjab government has banned the business. Muhammad Saleem, owner of the factory, was not present there when the material exploded. After the blast, he went into hiding to avoid arrest.

Police said fireworks material was placed in the courtyard of the factory where a dozen children were present.

It caught fire due to the reasons not yet known to police or rescuers. Seven children received severe burns and were rushed to the Lahore General Hospital by Rescue 1122 and Edhi ambulances where four of them succumbed to their injuries.

The condition of others was reported to be critical. Police registered a case against the factory owner and shifted the bodies to morgue for autopsy.