BAHAWALPUR/BAHAWALNAGAR: A deputy superintendent of police (DSP), SHO and other policemen were suspended from service a day after a grenade attack on an Ashura procession at Jinnah Colony.

Regional Police Officer Muhammad Zubair Dareshak said on Friday three officials of the Bahawalnagar police had been suspended in the aftermath of the tragedy. A provincial minister, however, said the duty DSP was among those penalised.

Two persons were killed and 24 others injured in the grenade attack.

Speaking to Dawn, PRO Rao Hussain Feroze said the police chief had condoled the death of the two persons and inquired after the injured. He quoted the RPO as having said that police and other security institutions had arrested the man who hurled the hand grenade from a mosque located on the procession route. The RPO said there was no security lapse and it was the vigilance of police which led to the arrest of the suspect.

The RPO said Bahawalnagar SHO Akbar Gujjar, ASI Muhammad Ashraf and security in-charge Rao Inam had been suspended from service.

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) registered a case against the administration of the Jamia Masjid as well as Qari Barkullah, Qari Ibrar Chitrali, Qadeer Dewan Chaiwala and other suspects on the complaint of Shahzaib Ali under sections 302, 324 of PPC and 7 ATA. The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) had granted physical remand of the main suspect to the CTD officials for 90 days.

The PRO said the suspect had links with terrorists in KP and was being interrogated. He said the bodies were handed over to the families without postmortem examination.

Meanwhile, Bahawal Victoria Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Aslam Malik told Dawn that Syed Muqqaddas, 22, one of the injured, was disharged on Friday while Shahbaz, 30, Adil Hussain, 38, and Waseem Ahmed, 25, were being treated.

Police and Rescue sources said the explosion took place near the Jamia Masjid of Jinnah Colony, Jail Road and it led to a stampede. The injured were taken to the DHQ hospital and security forces including Rangers surrounded the area and started a search operation and initially arrested Mursaleen, a prayer leader of the mosque. However, mourners in the procession took hold of the suspect and subjected him to severe torture. He was rescued by police and shifted to an undisclosed place.

The mourners cancelled all activities and gathered at Rafeeq Shah Chowk and held a sit-in against the incident. The protesters declared it the failure of the administration and raised slogans against them. Punjab Zakat and Ushr Minister Mian Shaukat Ali Laleka held negotiation with the protesters.

Later, the minister claimed at a press conference that the incident was an attempt to stoke sectarian unrest. He claimed that the suspect had confessed to throwing the hand grenade at the procession and made revelations about his accomplices. He said the culprit had been arrested and his facilitators would be arrested soon. He said there was also suspicion of foreign hand in the attack.

The minister announced Rs1 million compensation for the families of the deceased on behalf of the Punjab chief minister. Financial aid would also be provided to the injured, he added. The protesters peacefully dispersed after the press conference.

The minister said the DSP, SHO, security in-charge and other officials had been suspended. He said strict action would be taken against officials in light of the inquiry report. Emergency District Officer Rao Sharafat said the rescuers shifted 26 injured including women and children to the DHQ Hospital. He said Salman, 30, was found dead on the spot while Maheen Zahra, 7, was found severaly injured and died shortly after reaching the hospital.

Health CEO Dr Asfandyar said out of the total 26 injured, those with minor injuries caused by the stampede were released from the hospital after administering first-aid. He said 12 patients were undergoing treatment at the DHQ hospital.

CM: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has sought a report from the IGP about the tragic incident that occurred on Yaum-i-Ashur in Bahawalnagar.

The chief minister extended sympathies to the bereaved families of two persons who lost their lives and directed the administration to provide the best medical treatment to the injured.

The chief minister announced that the Punjab government would provide one million rupees each to the heirs of the deceased.

The seriously injured persons will be given Rs500,000 each. Similarly, Rs100,000 will be given to each of the 11 injured persons, he added.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2021