India condemns suicide attack at Pak's Lal Shabhaz Qalandar shrine

New Delhi [India], Feb. 17 (ANI): India on Friday condemned the terrorist attack at the Sufi shrine of Lal Shabhaz Qalandar in Sindh's Sehwan town that killed at least 70 lives of people and left scores of others injured. "As you know, India has always condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We strongly deplore the terrorist attack at the shrine of Lal Shabhaz Qalandar yesterday that resulted in the loss of a large number of innocent lives," Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. According to police in Sehwan a suicide bomber had entered the shrine yesterday through its Golden gate. "So far 70 people have been killed and more than 150 wounded," Dawn quoted Inspector General Police Sindh A.D. Khawaja as saying. The attacker blew himself up after throwing a grenade, which failed to explode, he said. The explosion took place in the area where dhamaal (a Sufi ritual) was being performed after evening prayers. A large number of devotees, from across the country, frequented the shrine on Thursdays as it is a popular day to visit Sufi shrines. Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has also directed that immediate assistance be provided to civil authorities. Army contingents have been dispatched along with medical personnel. The shrine is dedicated to Syed Muhammad Usman Marwandia, a 12th century Sufi who was born in Marwand, present day Afghanistan. (ANI)