Lahore blasts: Strategy in Data Darbar bombing was similar

LAHORE - Investigators in Pakistan were Thursday examining the similarities between the powerful triple blasts targeting a Shia procession near Karbala Gamay Shah here a day earlier and the July 1 bombing of the famous Sufi shrine Data Darbar just a few metres away.

Two back-to-back suicide attacks had killed 47 people at the Data Darbar and injured more than 170. Wednesday’s triple strike in this Pakistani city exactly two months later has so far claimed 35 lives and left more than 250 injured.

Just two months apart, both blasts had more or less the same modus operandi. In the Data Darbar attack, the first bomber blew himself up in the basement of the shrine while the second blast occurred at the entrance gate as devotees ran towards the exit in a state of panic.

Similarly, the first blast on Wednesday evening targeted the tail of the procession near the Karbala Gamay Shah prayer ground. As people started running in different directions in a bid to escape, two more blasts were held near Bhatti Chowk. All three blasts were carried out within a span of 25 minutes.

The thickly populated Lower Mall area, where both the shrines are located, is a major entry route to the provincial capital from the northern side through the bridge over the Ravi river. There are several low-budget hotels and guesthouses in the vicinity and a large number of people in the area, including the homeless hoping for a free meal.

Given the crowds, it is often difficult to assess who is a suspect and who is a genuine devotee in the gathering. Police authorities have been raiding these hotels frequently to look for suspects.

Security was upped in the area following the Data Darbar blasts. However, locals allege that police slackened after a few days, leading to the tragic incident Wednesday evening.

Shaukat, an office-bearer of the local traders association, alleged that police had failed to provide adequate security for the Shia procession on the occasion of Youm-e-Ali, a mourning procession.

“There were no metal detectors and walk-through gates at the entrance,” he said, alleging that several people were seen joining in the procession without thorough body search.

An official of the police special branch, on condition of anonymity, told IANS that the bombers were aiming at maximum damage now and trying to attack from different directions.

“It is difficult to ensure foolproof security because of the thickly populated area and also because most of the devotees are non-cooperative with security officials,” he said.

Moulana Abbas Kumeli, chief of Shia Action Committee, criticised the provincial government for failing to take appropriate measures for the security of devotees despite the fact that Data Darbar was attacked just a couple of months ago.

“Terrorists are ruling the roost and the government is sleeping instead of caring for the general public,” he regretted.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah denied the allegation of lack of security for the procession adding that it was not possible to check each and every individual in a gathering of thousands of people. “It would be premature to draw any similarities with the Data Darbar attack on July 1 till the investigations are completed,” he said.

(Awais Saleem can be contacted at ians.pakistan@gmail.com)