September 2010 Lahore bombings
Encyclopedia
The September 2010 Lahore bombings were a series of three suicide bombings which occurred on September 1, 2010, in Lahore
, Pakistan
. Thirty-eight were killed and more than 250 were injured when a Shia procession was targeted.
, and in July the Sufi community came under attack
. While the government of Pakistan has banned several militant groups many of them have re emerged under different names and critics say that governments reluctance to act against them is encouraging them.
These were the first major attacks in Pakistan since the country was devastated by 2010 Pakistan floods
.
whom they consider to be their first Imam
. The three blasts occurred within 2000 feet (609.6 m) of each other. The first explosion happened in the Karbala Gamay Shah area at local time. This was followed by a second explosion about 25 minutes later in Bhati chowk
. The third blast happened in Anarkali Bazaar
about 10 minutes after the second explosion. Bodies of three suicide bombers have been recovered according to government sources.
Two days later the death toll rose to 38.
to maintain law and order. After the attack the authorities urged people not to hold outdoor religious meetings.
who vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Chief Minister
of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif
announced compensation of Rs 500,000 for those killed and Rs 75,000 for the injured.
Following another attack in Quetta
2 days later, Interior Minister Rehman Malik
told the press that militants want to fan the flames of sectarianism in an effort to destabilize the government followinga series of military offensives against them. He also claimed that Punjabi, such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and al-Qaida and the Tehrik-e-Taliban are one and the same.http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Pakistani-Flooding-to-Affect-Fight-Against-Militants-102218169.html
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Thirty-eight were killed and more than 250 were injured when a Shia procession was targeted.
Background
Pakistan which has a mostly Sunni population has seen sectarian attacks against minorities including Shias who account for about 20% of Pakistan's population. It is estimated that 4000 people have been killed in religious violence over the last decade. This was the third attack against Lahore's minority communities in 2010: in May two mosques were attacked belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim CommunityAhmadiyya Muslim Community
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the larger of two communities that arose from the Ahmadiyya movement founded in 1889 in India by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian . The original movement split into two factions soon after the death of the founder...
, and in July the Sufi community came under attack
July 2010 Lahore bombings
The July 2010 Lahore bombings occurred on 2010 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the Sufi shrine, Data Durbar Complex. At least 50 people died and 200 others were hurt in the blasts. This was the biggest attack on a Sufi shrine in Pakistan since...
. While the government of Pakistan has banned several militant groups many of them have re emerged under different names and critics say that governments reluctance to act against them is encouraging them.
These were the first major attacks in Pakistan since the country was devastated by 2010 Pakistan floods
2010 Pakistan floods
The 2010 Pakistan floods began in late July 2010, resulting from heavy monsoon rains in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan regions of Pakistan and affected the Indus River basin. Approximately one-fifth of Pakistan's total land area was underwater, approximately...
.
Attacks
The blasts targeted a procession by about 35,000 Shia to mark the death anniversary of AliAli
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
whom they consider to be their first Imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
. The three blasts occurred within 2000 feet (609.6 m) of each other. The first explosion happened in the Karbala Gamay Shah area at local time. This was followed by a second explosion about 25 minutes later in Bhati chowk
Chowk
Originally in Urdu , a chowk is a Town square, an open area commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings, Market square or simply traffic intersection:* Ashram Chowk Delhi* Banaras Chowk, Karachi...
. The third blast happened in Anarkali Bazaar
Anarkali bazaar
Anarkali bazaar is a famous bazār in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is one of the oldest surviving markets in South Asia, dating back at least 200 years...
about 10 minutes after the second explosion. Bodies of three suicide bombers have been recovered according to government sources.
Two days later the death toll rose to 38.
Aftermath
After the blasts angry mobs attacked police stations and burnt vehicles leading to deployment of Pakistan RangersPakistan Rangers
The Pakistan Rangers are part of the Paramilitary forces of Pakistan, and consists of members of the Pakistan Army under the direct control of the Ministry of the Interior of the Pakistan Government. The Rangers are an internal security force with the prime objective to provide and maintain...
to maintain law and order. After the attack the authorities urged people not to hold outdoor religious meetings.
Reaction
Three days of mourning was ordered by the provincial government and all private and public institutions were closed. The attacks were condemned by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza GillaniYousaf Raza Gillani
Yousuf Raza Gilani is the current prime minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He was nominated as Prime Minister by the PPP, with the support of its coalition partners, Pakistan Muslim League , Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Muttahida Qaumi Movement, on 22 March 2008...
who vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Chief Minister
Chief Minister of Punjab (Pakistan)
The Chief Minister of Punjab is elected by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab to serve as the head of the provincial government in Punjab, Pakistan. The current Chief Minister is Shahbaz Sharif, who became the Chief Minister of Punjab as being restored after Governor's rule starting from...
of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif
Shahbaz Sharif
Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is a well-known conservative Pakistani politician and currently President of Pakistan Muslim League . He is the brother of Nawaz Sharif, former Prime Minister of Pakistan. He is the chief minister of Pakistan's most populous province Punjab since 2008...
announced compensation of Rs 500,000 for those killed and Rs 75,000 for the injured.
Following another attack in Quetta
September 2010 Quetta bombing
The September 2010 Quetta bombing occurred on September 3, 2010 in Quetta, Pakistan. At least 73 people were killed and 160 injured when a bomb exploded in a Quds Day procession which Shias were carrying out to express solidarity with Palestinians....
2 days later, Interior Minister Rehman Malik
Rehman Malik
27 April 2009 He has been the interior adviser since 27 March 2008.Senator A. Rehman Malik is a Pakistani politician, member of the Senate of Pakistan, and the current Interior Minister of Pakistan under the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani administration. His Second name is Shetan Malik and he...
told the press that militants want to fan the flames of sectarianism in an effort to destabilize the government followinga series of military offensives against them. He also claimed that Punjabi, such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and al-Qaida and the Tehrik-e-Taliban are one and the same.http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Pakistani-Flooding-to-Affect-Fight-Against-Militants-102218169.html
See also
- Sectarian violence in PakistanSectarian violence in PakistanSectarian violence in Pakistan spark up occasionally between the predominant Sunnis and minority Shias. According to Library of Congress, Pew Research Center, Oxford University, the CIA Factbook and other experts, Shi'a Islam in Pakistan make up 5-20% of the total Muslim population, while the...
- List of terrorist incidents in Pakistan since 2001
- Persecution of Shia MuslimsPersecution of Shia MuslimsThe dispute over the right successor to Muhammad resulted in the formation of two main sects, the Sunni, and the Shia. The Sunni, or followers of the way, followed the caliphate and maintained the premise that any devout Muslim could potentially become the successor to the Prophet if accepted by...
External links
- In pictures: Blasts hit Shia procession in Pakistan, BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, 2010-09-01