Lahore: At least five people, including three police officials and two civilians, were killed and 24 others injured in an explosion near Data Darbar here in Pakistan Wednesday, DIG Operations Lahore Ashfaq Ahmed Khan confirmed.
According to initial police reports, the explosion, near Gate no. 2 of Data Darbar, was targeted at a police vehicle. The nature of the explosion has not been ascertained yet.
SP (City) Syed Ghazanfar Shah said that eight of those injured in the blast were critical. The wounded have been shifted to the Mayo Hospital, Dawn News reported.
The area was cordoned off and a heavy contingent of the police has been deployed there.
The Data Darbar complex contains the shrine of Saint Syed Ali bin Osman Al-Hajvery, popularly known as Data Ganj Bakhsh. Originally from neighbours Afghanistan, Al-Hajvery was one of the most popular Sufi preachers during his time.
Thousands of devotees visit the shrine each spring to mark his death anniversary.
IANS