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| Scores killed in Pakistan by blast outside Lahore park | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An apparent suicide bomber has killed at least 52 people outside a public park in the Pakistani city of Lahore, rescue officials have said. | |
| The blast in the parking area of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park on Sunday happened just outside the exit gate and feet away from children’s swings. Officials said most of the victims were women and children. | The blast in the parking area of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park on Sunday happened just outside the exit gate and feet away from children’s swings. Officials said most of the victims were women and children. |
| The park was particularly busy on Sunday evening due to the Easter holiday weekend. | The park was particularly busy on Sunday evening due to the Easter holiday weekend. |
| “At least 38 people were killed and more than 100 are injured,” Mustansar Feroz, police superintendent for the area, told Reuters. “Most of the dead and injured are women and children.” | “At least 38 people were killed and more than 100 are injured,” Mustansar Feroz, police superintendent for the area, told Reuters. “Most of the dead and injured are women and children.” |
| The explosion in the eastern city happened in prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s political heartland of Punjab. Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation of 190 million people, is plagued by a Taliban insurgency, criminal gangs and sectarian violence. Punjab is its biggest and wealthiest province. | The explosion in the eastern city happened in prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s political heartland of Punjab. Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation of 190 million people, is plagued by a Taliban insurgency, criminal gangs and sectarian violence. Punjab is its biggest and wealthiest province. |
| In 2014, Pakistan launched an offensive against Taliban and affiliated jihadi fighters in North Waziristan, in a bid to destroy safe havens from which to launch attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan. | In 2014, Pakistan launched an offensive against Taliban and affiliated jihadi fighters in North Waziristan, in a bid to destroy safe havens from which to launch attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan. |
| Punjab has traditionally been more peaceful than other parts of Pakistan. Sharif’s opponents have accused him of tolerating militancy in return for peace in his province, a charge he strongly denies. | Punjab has traditionally been more peaceful than other parts of Pakistan. Sharif’s opponents have accused him of tolerating militancy in return for peace in his province, a charge he strongly denies. |
| Last year, a bomb killed a popular Pakistani provincial minister and at least eight others when it destroyed the minister’s home in Punjab. | Last year, a bomb killed a popular Pakistani provincial minister and at least eight others when it destroyed the minister’s home in Punjab. |