Pakistan investigators ‘clueless’ about Sri Lankan cricket team bus attackers one year on

It lasted barely a half hour and yet its impact continues to span a subcontinent almost a year later. On Mar. 3, 2009, 12 militants with guns, grenades, and rocket launchers attacked a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team to a match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium in Pakistan. Six Pakistani policemen escorting the team and two civilians were killed while seven Sri Lankan players and an assistant coach were injured. Various reports blamed different groups: al-Qaeda, local Taliban, Sri Lanka’s LTTE Tamil rebels, and even India’s spy agency. It may never be clear why this happened or what forces were involved.

Lahore, Mar.4 : It has been more than a year (March 3, 2009) since the audacious terror attack on the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team took place in Lahore and cricket authorities in Pakistan are still struggling to hold any international event in the country, but there has been little progress in the probe to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice.

As many as eight policemen were killed while seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach were injured in the attack carried out by around four to six terrorists near the Gaddafi Stadium.

Pakistani investigation agencies and even Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani blamed foreign hands for the attack, however officials have failed to establish any link supporting that stance.

There has been no follow up into the case leading to the real culprits.

At least four criminals are still at large and it seems that the police has possibly lost the plot in the case.

Describing the attack as ‘horrific’ former captain Ramiz Raja said the country is still suffering from the impact of the tragic incident.

“It was tragic. Pakistan is suffering its impact not only in cricket but also in other sports as we have not been able to host any international sporting event,” The Nation quoted Raja, as saying.

Terming the incident as the cricket’s 9/11, ICC match referee Chris Broad, who was also in the convoy which was attacked near Lahore’s Liberty Chowk, said he would remember the gory incident until he dies.

“The third of the third ‘09 will be with me until I die. It was a horrible day, not only for me but also for the rest of the playing control team over there and the Sri Lankan team. It will be cricket’s 9/11,” Broad said. (ANI)