Shia Genocide Events
Bhakkar, April 25, 2002: Bomb blast in Majlis-i-Aza, 7 women, 5 children killed
Date : April 25, 2002
Location : Bhakkar
Casualties :20
Gender : male , female ,
Narrative of the Event
On April 25, 2002, at least 12 people, including seven women and five children, died and 25 others were injured after a bomb exploded in the women’s section of a religious ceremony at Bhakkar on Thursday.
The bomb exploded at the Shia congregation of “Yahri Bahri” at Qadeem Imambargah, Bahir Wala Qabrastan in Bhakkar city. Witnesses said tens of thousands of people were attending the ceremony when the blast took place. Arif Hussain was addressing the Majlis when the bomb rocked the area at about 11.25 p.m. People started rushing in different directions to save their lives. A dozen people were injured in the stampede.
Witnesses said the bomb left a 5×10-square-foot crater, suggesting that it was of very high intensity. Blood and body parts were found spread at the scene, witnesses said. Bhakkar Nazim Hameed Akhtar Niwani reached the spot at about 12.10 a.m., while Bhakkar SP Khurram Gulzar reached it at about 12.15 a.m. Till then, no ambulance had reached the scene; witnesses complained, adding that a squad of elite forces was there, but it did not extend any help.
Bhakkar is known as a centre of Shia activities, a witness said while elaborating on the events of Yahri Bahri. He said that a large number of Zakirs addressed different Majalis on the occasion, and more than 50,000 people from across the province attended the event every year. On Thursday, there were more than 50,000 attendants.
Sources:
1-https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/apr/27/pakistan.rorymccarthy
2-https://www.dawn.com/news/407598/7-killed-in-bhakkar-bomb-blast
3-Daily Jang Lahore, April 26, 2002
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