Lahore:
Thirty-four people, including women and children, were killed and over 100 injured when two powerful blasts ripped through a crowded commercial hub in Lahore on Monday, hours after a suicide bombing in northwestern Peshawar city left 10 people dead.
The blasts rocked Moon Market in Allama Iqbal Town area shortly after 8.45 pm.
One explosion occurred within the market while the other occurred on its outer perimeter. The blasts went off within a minute of each other near a bank and a police station.
Thirty-four people were killed and 109 injured by the blasts and the death toll could rise, said Lahore Commissioner Khusro Pervaiz.
Rescue workers were sifting through the rubble of burnt shops to ascertain if more people were buried under the rubble.
A two-year-old boy and at least three women were among the dead. The injured were taken to five hospitals, where doctors performed emergency surgeries to save their lives.
At least 18 of the wounded had severe burn injuries, doctors said.
Inspector General of Police Tariq Saleem Dogar told reporters the blasts were "remote controlled explosions and not suicide attacks".
There were reports that one of the blasts was caused by a suicide bomber though this could not be verified. No one claimed responsibility for the attack. The explosions sparked a massive fire that engulfed several shops and a bank.