Four suspects arrested in connection with Lahore attack, ammunition recovered -SL team called back to home
Tue, 2009-03-03 16:08
By Farzana Shah - from Pakistan
Lahore , 03 March, (Asiantribune.com): About four suspected persons have been arrested from Model Town area of Lahore, capital of Punjab Province of Pakistan in connection with attack on Sri Lankan team killing 7 persons.
A red color centro car No LRM-7030 has been seized which was said to be snatched by the terrorists for fleeing the area.Scene of Sri Lankan Cricketers being attacked
It is clear contradiction of earlier statement by Chief City Police Officer Lahore Habibur Rehman, stating terrorists ran towards Fardous Market. Fardous Market and Model Town are on opposite sides.
The firing and attack came from posh Liberty area which has Liberety Market on one side, Opposite to that is Cricket Stadium and on the other side is Kalma Chowk and Jail Road.
Earlier about seven persons including 5 security personnel had been killed while eight people including five Sri Lankan cricketers have been injured when three gunmen opened fired on a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricket team to Gaddafi Stadium Tuesday.
Three gunmen armed with sophisticated weapons attacked the bus killing seven people; five among them are elite police squad guarding the cricket teams. The killed include Faisal Zafar, Tepu Farid, Mudasir, Tanveer, Zafar and Nadeem.
Five cricketers, including Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardana, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga received minor injuries. The Sri Lankan cricketers are out of danger whereas Pakistani umpire Ali Raza is being operated for bullet injury.
The attackers first used a rocket launcher attack aimed at the bus but apparently it seems an attempt to create panic as it missed and hit shop after which the terrorists resorted to indiscriminate firing on the bus. The attacker are said to has come in a white Corolla car bearing Karachi registration number. The elite police force responded quickly which have saved many lives.
Sports producer Gavin Scovell said security teams responded quickly. "The guards were brilliant. They weren't panicking. They were very calm," Scovell said. "It must have been a terrifying experience, but they handled it well."
CCOP Lahore told the media that attackers were sophisticatedly armed with LPGs, G-3s and AK-47s, grenades and other equipment.
The timing of the attack is very crucial due to political tension between the two biggest political parties of Pakistan the ruling Pakistan Peoples Part of late Bhutto and Pakistan Muslim League of opposition leader Nawaz Sharif.
After disqualification of Nawaz and his brother Shahbaz Sharif who was chief minister of biggest province of Pakistan, the Zardari government had dissolved Punjab provincial government and Governor Rule had been implemented for two months.
Almost entire tire of Punjab police department was reshuffled by the central government overnight.
Some commentators are also pointing fingers at ill-timed postings and transfers which they say might have also created some confusion regarding security arrangements.
However the government officials say security was all satisfactory and provided to utmost.
The president of Awami Muslim Shiekh Rashid while speaking to media said influence factor must not be ruled out, adding that some elements took advantage of political situation of Pakistan aimed at maligning the country.
He also said that it was on record that UK and US had already warned their citizens from traveling to Lahore and some other cities of Punjab on grounds of security concerns.
He said thorough investigation should be carried out before any final speculation however the influence factors should also be taken into consideration.
It is widely believed that some elements want to add fuel to fire regarding declaring Pakistan as failed state and eyeing for its nuclear disarmament on the pretext in the long. The elements according to analysts are having full cooperation from local anti-Pakistan groups who are involved in many suicide and bomb attacks in Pakistan.
Over an all the attack is suicidal for sports in Pakistan specially cricket which has already suffered badly due to worsening security in the country.
- Asian Tribune -
Four suspects arrested in connection with Lahore attack, ammunition recovered -SL team called back to home | Asian Tribune