Pakistan: dozens killed in a deadly explosion in Lahore

Police blocking the streets in the city of Lahore after an
 explosion
(Image: AFP)

At least 65 people were killed in a deadly explosion in the city of Lahore in Eastern part of Pakistan, Punjab Province, on Sunday, 27 March, according to the reports of Pakistani Ministry of Interior and Health Ministry. More than 250 more were wounded, many of them in an extremely dangerous condition. Most of the victims of the blast were women and children, as an explosion occurred in the local park.

An explosion was a terrorist attack and was carried out by a suicide bomber who blew himself up close to the parking area of the popular Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the Lahore bombing, but later that day Taliban issued a statement that this explosion was their operation.

Punjab is one of the wealthiest and one of the biggest regions of Pakistan located close to the borders with India. This province is also a political base of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

In 2014 Pakistan launched a massive offensive against the Taliban group and against other jihadist groups and fighters affiliated with Taliban in North Waziristan.

Punjab Province though is one of the most peaceful regions in the country . Opponents of Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif in their turn have accused him of tolerating militancy and insurgency in the region in return for peace in his province, the claim which the Prime Minister strongly denies.