22 killed, 70 injured in Lahore suicide attack

{image-Lahore blast_10012008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Lahore, Jan 10: At least 22 people, most of them police officials, were killed and 70 others injured in a suicide attack near Lahore High Court today. SSP Coordination Bilal Siddique Kamiana said the suicide attacker walked into the heavy posse of police deputed at the GPO chowk and blew himself up, just before a protest rally of lawyers was to emerge from the High Court premises.

The impact of the blast was such that body parts were found strewn in the 100m diameter of the explosion. Four cars were also damaged in the explosion. An emergency has been declared in Lahore hospitals and appeals are being made for blood donations. The injured have been shifted to Jinnah and Services hospitals. As security had been beefed up in the city more than 60 police officials were on duty at the GPO chowk in view of the rally. Police have cordoned off the area.

The deceased policemen have been identified as Irum Nasir, Mairaj Begum, Muhammad Yousuf, Ateequr Rehman, Aslam, Hafeez, Karamat, Majid, Muhammad Shafi, Ansar, Iftikhar Ahmad, Hamid, Rana Adnan, Naveed Abdul Waheed and Naveed Abdul Rasheed.

President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro have condemned the terrorist attack and expressed their anguish over the loss of life.

The two leaders reiterated their resolve to continue the fight against terrorism and extremism.

They directed the law enforcing agencies to bring the perpetrat

UNI