Relatives bury victims of attacks on Pak mosques

A Pakistani boy mourns over the death of his uncle, who was killed in the Islamic militant's attack, after a funeral in Rabwa, some 150 kilometers (93 miles) northwest from Lahore on Saturday. Photo: AP.

Relatives on Saturday buried the victims of terror attacks at two mosques of the minority Ahmadi community in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore.

The death toll in Friday’s coordinated raids at the Model Town and Garhi Shahu mosques reached 82, as more than 100 injured victims were being treated in hospitals.

Some of the relatives blamed the government for lack of security at the places of worship.

Police were questioning one of two teenaged suspects detained after the attacks. The other was being treated at a local hospital after being captured and beaten by the worshippers.

A militant group linked to the Taliban and al—Qaeda claimed responsibility for the bombing, and warned of more attacks against the community.

Khalid Raja, a local Ahmadi leader, said the community would remain peaceful, and not resort to street protests or make demands on the government.

Ahmadis number about 4 million out of Pakistan’s population of 180 million. They were declared non—Muslims in 1974 in Pakistan, because they regard their founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as a prophet, which runs against the faith of the majority of Muslims who believe Mohammed was the last prophet.

They are periodically targeted, but Friday’s attack was the first claimed by insurgents linked with Taliban and al—Qaeda, who have attacked other Muslim minorities including the Shiites.