Update: 20 Shia Muslims martyred in a suicidal attack on Moharram procession in Rawalpindi
At least 20 mourners (Azadar’s) were martyred and 47 others injured in a suicidal attack on a Azadari (mourning) procession, marking the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (as) grandson of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) near an Imambargah in Rawalpindi here on Wednesday night.
The juloos-e-aza was brought out from Imam Bargah Qasr-e-Shabbir in Dhok Sayedaan area in the vicinity of Rawalpindi City. The suicidal attack occurred near Qasr-e-Shabbir Imambargah Rawalpindi, comes hours after two back-to-back bomb blasts –40 minutes apart– near an Imambargah Shian-e-Haidar-e-Karar in Karachi martyred four people and left 30 others wounded.
The Moharram procession was passing through Misriyal road when a suicide bomber stormed into the area and detonated his bomb. He was torn apart. Sources quoted eyewitnesses as saying that a suicide bomber suddenly entered into the Moharram-ul-Haram procession and detonated the explosives strapped to his body.
“Two unknown people, who did not appear to be mourners, barged in the procession and one of them blew himself up”, said eyewitnesses. As a result more than 20 Azadars were martyred on the spot and around scores were injured. The bodies and the injured were rushed to the hospitals.
It is pertinent to mention that around 3,000-4,000 mourners left one Imamabargah in the form of a procession and were on their way to another, when the bomber struck. A hand grenade has also been recovered from the spot of the blast.
Officials said that the bombers failed to reach inside the procession and detonated at some distance otherwise more casualties would have occurred. The suicide bomber entered into the Moharram procession and detonated the explosives strapped to his body, Eye Witnesses said.Police has recovered 7 hand grenades from the spot. Army personnel have surrounded the area and started search operation. Shia parties and leaders said that takfiri nasbi terrorists of banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi/Sipah-e-Sahaba and Taliban were involved in the genocide of Shiites.
A large number of enraged people gathered outside the blast site and chanted slogans against the poor security measure taken by the government.
Owing to this chaotic situation, security forces had a hard time combing the area to collect whatever traces of forensic evidence could be found on top of detecting the presence of more explosives.
“The area could not be cleared for investigation as the bereaved families and friends had refused to leave the site of tragedy”, said sources.
The violence erupted a day before Pakistan hosts a summit of developing nations attended by the leaders of Iran, Egypt,Turkey, Indonesia and other countries. Some of the presidents have already arrived.
