ICC Note:
A former Christian general has criticized the government for their inaction in the face of a series of terrorist attacks across the country. A few hours ago, another bomb exploded in Lahore’s commercial district, killing 9 and injuring another 30. This represents the eighth terrorist attack in Pakistan over the past 10 days. Christians across Pakistan fear that soon they could be the targets of the terrorist’s attacks, as they have been in the past. 
02/23/2017 Pakistan (Asia News) – A few hours ago, another bomb exploded in Lahore’s commercial district, killing nine people and injuring more than 30.
Investigators are still trying to determine who is behind this act of violence that has thrown Pakistan back into the vortex of Islamic terrorism.
Speaking to Asia News, Ret Brigadier General Samson Simon Sharaf, a Christian, criticized the inaction of the military, the justice system and the government.
“We are lying to ourselves,” he said. “The new wave of terror was to be expected. The National Action Plan approved by the government is only drawing a map of the terrorists, without taking any initiative. Explosions will continue for at least another six months because these groups now see us as targets.”
According to the former general, “radical organizations had hitherto been dormant in Punjab province, but active in other provinces.”
“The city of Lahore is a sensitive target because it is famous as Pakistan’s hub. It is also the seat of power. In fact, the Punjab is the political base of the Pakistan Muslim League, the ruling party.”
Today the bomb was activated by remote control, inside a four-story building under construction in the Defense Housing Society area.
The force of the blast damaged nearby shops, banks and restaurants. It is feared that in addition to the recovered bodies, other workers may still be trapped under the rubble. The destructive power suggests that device contained at least 8-10 kilos of explosive material.
Initially, there were rumors, later denied, that a second bombed had gone off near a restaurant that caters to foreigners in the Gulberg district.
Today’s explosion is the eighth act of violence in ten days across Pakistan. The first attack occurred on 13 February when the Taliban struck a group of pharmacists gathered in front of the Punjab Assembly in Lahore, resulting in 14 victims. This was followed by Quetta, Mohmand Agency, Peshawar.
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