Lahore (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Ahmadiyya Muslim minority is calling for "increased security" from the government in the aftermath of the double attack on the mosques in Lahore, during Friday prayers, which caused at least 93 victims. So says Raja Ghalab Ahmad, a leader of the sect, which is considered heretical in Pakistan because it does not recognize Muhammad as the last prophet. He calls for "decisive action" against the Taliban from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, the Punjab section, which has claimed the twin attack.
Ahmad launched the appeal from one of the mosques targeted by Islamic fundamentalists. He states that the current toll is 93 dead, following the death of 13 people in hospitals where they were hospitalized. At least a hundred more are wounded, some of them seriously. Meanwhile, the Ahmadi community began burying the victims of the ceremony (pictured) today in the cemetery of Rabwa, the headquarters of the sect, about 150 km from where the attacks occurred.
Yesterday, during Friday prayers, armed groups and suicide bombers attacked two mosques belonging to the Ahmadi sect. The places of worship are located, one in the rich urban area of Model Town and the other in the crowded area of Garhi Shahu.
Police sources speak of at least 50 dead in Garhi Shahu, attacked by terrorists around at 13:35 yesterday. The Pakistani newspaper Dawn reports that at the time of the attack there were over a thousand people inside. The terrorist group, "armed and well trained, had AK-47 rifles, pistols, grenades and were wearing vests loaded with explosives. They opened fire indiscriminately at the crowd, occupying the mosque for several hours and taking the faithful hostage. When the police decided to raid, the Islamists blew themselves up, causing carnage. The officials took control of the area around 5 pm.
The assault on the mosque in Model Town, however, was faster. Four terrorists opened fire against the faithful and threw hand grenades. An eyewitness said: "it was like a war. I just prayed that God would save me from hell”. A first police estimate speaks of about 20 people were killed in the attack. According to investigators, the Taliban were aided by "accomplices" who managed to flee by mixing among the crowd.
The Ahmadis claim to Muslims, but do not recognize Muhammad as the last prophet and for this are considered heretics, and suffer heavy violence and ostracism by the fundamentalist Muslims in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia. The Ahmadi community in Pakistan is composed of approximately three million members, mostly resident in Punjab.
