Lahore: At least eight people were feared killed when a blast ripped through a Shia procession in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Sunday, media reports said.
The explosion occurred in Khanpur town shortly after a ‘Chehlum’ procession left a Shia ‘imambarah’ or prayer hall this afternoon. Witnesses and reporters at the site said they had seen at least eight bodies.
About a dozen people were also injured in the incident, according to reports by TV news channels. Around 150 people were participating in the procession.
However, regional police chief Zahir Abid Qadri said an ‘alam’ or flag carried by the procession had touched overhead electric wires, causing a short circuit. A nearby transformer then exploded, he said. Qadri contended that the incident was not an act of terrorism. He further said he had no confirmation of any deaths. (PTI)
