NEWS

Six killed in Lahore twin blasts

By K J M Varma in Islamabad
September 22, 2005 21:22 IST

Two bicycle bombs exploded near simultaneously in busy market areas of the Pakistani city of Lahore on Thursday, killing six people and injuring more than 30.

The explosives were packed in cycles in two different busy market places in Lahore, the capital of Pakistan's Punjab province, reports reaching Islamabad said.

The first blast occurred near Minar-i-Pakistan gate when a cycle parked close to a pushcart exploded killing the pushcart owner and two others.

Around the same time, another cycle bomb exploded in Achra market in which three persons were killed.

More than 30 people were also injured in the blasts, the reports said.

No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts and the Punjab government announced compensation for the families of the dead and to those injured.

Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi accused anti-national forces of planting the bombs to disrupt normal life.

Officials in Islamabad attribute the bomb blasts to attempts by some banned militant groups to spoil the "positive" image of Pakistan projected by President Pervez Musharraf, who returned on Wednesday after a high-profile visit to New York to take part in the United Nations General Assembly.

Musharraf has taken tough action against extremist groups in recent years.

K J M Varma in Islamabad
Source: PTI
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