State-run gas pipeline blown up in eastern Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (KUNA) -- Some unknown miscreants Sunday night blew up state-run gas pipeline in the eastern Pakistani province of Punjab, disrupting gas supply to domestic and commercial users, officials said.
A 12-inch diameter gas pipelines was blown up third time near Lahore, 370 kilometers South of Islamabad, Deputy Managing Director of State-run Gas Company, Azam Khan told KUNA.
He said due to the explosion, gas supply to the Lahore city and its adjoining Mureedkae town has been partially suspended, whereas, he added, supply to about thirteen factories has been completely suspended.
Terming the incident as a terrorist activity, Azam said, Baluch nationalists are believed to be behind it. He said cause of the explosion is not known.
He said repair work has been started and hoped supply would be fully restored in the next three to four hours.
In a related development, Baluch nationalists fired at least five rockets at security forces checkpoints in the Kohlu district of troubled southwestern Baluchistan province, said a police official.
However, he added, there was no human or material loss reported. Baluch nationalists have been carrying out attacks on security personnel and stat-run gas pipelines frequently, to pressurize government to increase their royalties for the natural resources extracted from their lands. (end) amn.