LAHORE: The Punjab governor and the chief minister have condemned the suicide bomb blast outside Data Darbar asserting that the nation is united against terrorism and will not bow before militants playing in the hands of enemies.

Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Law Minister Basharat Raja, Industries Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal and others attended the funeral prayers at the district police lines on Wednesday.

The governor said sacrifices given by the Pakistani army and the nation against terrorism would certainly bear fruit.

“The whole nation will wipe out this menace of terrorism once and for all,” he said.

The governor with health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid visited those injured in the blast at the Mayo Hospital and said the whole nation was equally grieved at the tragic incident and offered prayers for the departed souls and for the immediate recovery of the injured persons.

The governor told reporters the Punjab police and other investigative agencies were conducting investigation to prepare a thorough report on the incident and added the crime scene had been preserved to collect evidence so that conclusive information regarding the suicide bomber could be collected.

Mr Buzdar visited the blast site near Data Darbar, where experts briefed him about the explosion and rescue activities carried out after the explosion.

The chief minister told reporters he strongly condemned the blast near the vehicle of the elite force outside Data Darbar and expressed a deep sense of sorrow over the death of citizens and police officials and extended sympathies to the bereaved heirs.

The chief minister sought a report from the inspector general of police and the additional chief home secretary (home) along with the direction to hold an inquiry into the blast. Mr Buzdar also directed the administration to provide the best healthcare facilities to the injured. He was also given a briefing about the blast at Punjab Safe City Authority office.

The chief minister said that he was personally monitoring the progress and as soon as he received the information about the tragic incident, he immediately issued directions to the officials concerned and personally visited the Punjab Safe City Authority where he was given a briefing and initial report about the attack.

“From there, I’ve come straight to the blast site,” he said.

The chief minister said emergency had been imposed in hospitals and best treatment facilities were given to the injured. He said provincial ministers were also monitoring the facilities provided to the injured in the hospitals.

Mr Buzdar said investigation agencies would soon trace the case and financial assistance would be provided to heirs of the martyrs along with the financial support to the injured for their treatment. He said sacrifices of the martyrs would not go waste and the terrorists would reach their logical end.

“We’ve successfully fought the war of making Pakistan a citadel of peace and will do so in future as well,” he asserted. JI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) emir Senator Sirajul Haq strongly condemned the bomb blast at Data Darbar.

In a statement, he said, the city of Lahore was made the target of terrorism once again. He called the blast alarming, and urged the intelligence agencies to trace the culprits. He prayed for the salvation of those killed in the blast and for the quick recovery of the injured.

JI Secretary-General Amirul Azeem and JI Deputy Chief Liaqat Baloch also condemned the incident and expressed deep sympathies with the bereaved families.

The central Shoora of the JI also condemned New Delhi’s decision banning the JI in India-held Kashmir and the confiscation of its assets, including the houses of JI leaders and the arrests of chief of the JI Dr Abdul Hameed Fayyaz and more than 400 other workers.

A resolution adopted by the Shoora presided over by Mr Haq stressed upon the world community and human rights bodies to play their role over the gross violations of human rights in India-held Kashmir. PAT: Pakistan Awami Tehreek suprermo Tahirul Qadri condemned on Wednesday the suicide attack outside Data Darbar and expressed grief and sorrow at the loss of precious lives in this act of terrorism, which includes civilians as well as policemen.

In his statement, he said those who shed blood of innocents during holy month of Ramazan were the worst creatures of the universe. Law enforcement agencies must track down elements involved in terrorism, as well as their facilitators, and ensure exemplary punishments for them.

He said protection of life and property of citizens is prime responsibility of state and government and every possible measure should be taken to avoid such heinous incidents.

JUP: Pir Ijaz Hashmi of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan said the blast proved the problem of terrorism persists, contrary to claims by intelligence agencies and law enforcing institutions.

The Lahore blast, killings of Hazara people in Quetta and killings of security personnel at the coastal highway were incidents of the same streak, which should be controlled at every cost. Security agencies must take effective measures. Targeting sufi shrines, places of peace and tolerance, is condemnable act and should not be tolerated, he said.

JAH: Abdul Wahab Ropri of the Jamaat Ahl-e-Hadit said that the deteriorating law and order situation in the country was alarming. The enemy wanted to destabilize the country through such tactics. The terrorists have no religion; they are the enemy of humanity and must be dealt as such. This loss of precious lives in Wednesday blast can only be condemned.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2019