1 killed, 12 injured in Pak blast

M Zulqernain

Lahore, Feb 3 (PTI) A low-intensity bomb went off at aSufi shrine in the old quarters of this eastern Pakistani citytoday, killing at least one man and injuring 12 others, anofficial spokesman said.

A large number of people had gathered at the ''langar'' orcommunity kitchen of the Baba Haider Saeen shrine near thehistoric Lahore Fort when the explosion occurred.

The explosive device was planted near the shrine,state-run Rescue 1122 service spokesman Fahim Jehanzeb toldPTI.

"One man was killed while 12 others were injured, five ofthem seriously," he said.

The injured were taken to Mayo Hospital.

A bomb disposal squad swept the spot and collectedevidence.

Muhammad Hasan, a bus conductor, said: "I was standingoutside my vehicle a few metres away from the shrine when Iheard the blast".

He said when he recovered his senses, he rushed to thespot and saw some injured persons.

The blast blew out windows at the shrine and caused panicamong the people.

No group claimed responsibility for the blast.

The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, who considershrines to be "un-Islamic", have targeted such places ofworship across the country, including the famous Data Darbarin Lahore.