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LAHORE: A bomb exploded at the eastern gate of the Baba Farid Shrine in Pakpattan early Monday morning, killing at least six people, including three women and injuring several others.
An explosion occurred during Fajir prayers near the eastern gate of Baba Farid’s shrine in Pakpattan, 190 km from the city of Lahore, DawnNews reported.
The bomb was planted in a milk container on a motorcycle, city police chief Mohammad Kashif told Reuters by telephone. The attack was the latest in the heartland province of Punjab.
“According to initial reports, two unidentified men dressed in shalwar kameez came on the motorcycle and parked it near the gate just minutes before the blast,” he said.
The explosive device was remote-controlled.
At least a 100 people have been reported to be present at the time of the blast. The injured are being taken to the District Headquarters hospital in Pakpattan. At least eight injured people are said to be in critical condition.
According to the Regional Police Officer, the shrine has been shut down and security forces have cordoned off the area.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest attack but Taliban militants have in the past attacked Sufi shrines.
The chairman of the Ruhat-e-Hilal Committee, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman said that the government had failed to provide adequate security to shrines in Pakistan.
In one of the deadliest strikes, a bomb blast in July at the Data Darbar in Lahore killed more than 40 people.
Eight people, including two children were killed in an attack at Shah Ghazi's shrine in the teeming port city of Karachi on October 8.—Agencies
