960414

5 killed

27 hurt

in SKMCH

blast

ALMAS A. KHAN

LAHORE: At least five people including a 12-year-old child were killed and 27 other injured, eight of them seriously, when a high intensity explosive device went off at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, here on Sunday.

According to police officials, the bomb which must have been planted in the waiting area of the OPD at the hospital, caused a huge explosion at about 12:20 hours when dozens of patients and their attendants were waiting for their turn to be examined.

Soon after the explosion, the mobile police, Mujahid Force, reached the spot and thoroughly search the hospital to avoid any further untoward happening. Mujahid Force and Edhi ambulances were seen busy shifting the injured and dead bodies to hospital.

Adult outpatient, Paediatric, Pharmacy and Chemotherapy departments of Shaukat Khanum Hospital were mostly damaged by the explosion.

SP, Cantt. Major Mubasher while talking to Business Recorder said that "it was a high intensity explosive device that went off in the waiting area of the OPD." He said, "soon after the explosion the hospital staff gave a phone call to "15" police control which, in turn, redioed the message to mobile police to rush to the spot.

On hearing the tragic news, Imran Khan reached the hospital where he was briefed by the staff about the incident. Imran also went round the wards which luckily were not damaged.

Later, speaking to the local and foreign mediamen Imran Khan said that it was crystal clear that it was a bomb blast, adding "such incidents cannot dampen my spirit but will be a source of additional courage and determination."

Without naming anyone, he said whosoever has done this inhuman act was, not a humanbeing. He said that he would pressurise the government to probe incident.

Chief Executive of the Shaukat Khan Hospital, Dr. Nausher Khan said that the loss must be in millions in view of the structural damage. He said that following the blast the work has been suspended because of power failure and the hospital must be functioning by Monday in any case.