Web Desk
At least three people were killed and another 21 injured after a powerful bomb explosion ripped through the Johar Town locality of Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore on Wednesday.
“The CTD will ascertain what it was, what material it was, what was used … and secondly, was it an [improvised explosive device] lodged in a vehicle, and whether it is a suicide attack or not,” Inam Ghani, the Inspector General of Police, Punjab, told newsmen near the site of the incident.
Punjab Police chief said that the explosion took place near the residence of proscribed Jamatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed. He said police were guarding Saeed’s house at the time of the attack, resulting in serious injuries to some officials.
“The biggest target that we see right now is that they are targeting law enforcement agencies,” Ghani said.
Television footage from the scene showed massive damage to a number of homes near the blast site, with windows smashed in, doors blown open and extensive damage to buildings close to the blast site.
Six of the wounded were in a critical condition, according to a health department official.
Jinnah Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Yahya Sultan, while talking to reporters in the afternoon, said seven of those admitted to the hospital were in critical condition with “ball bearing and blast injuries”. He added that the injured included two women, one of whom was pregnant and had to be put on a ventilator.
A first information report (FIR) was also registered under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, Anti-Terrorism Act and Explosive Substance Act against unknown persons at the CTD police station in Lahore.
The FIR stated that some officers of the CTD were present near Jinnah Hospital during a search for members of a proscribed organisation when they heard a loud explosion from the Jauhar Town area.
“The blast was so strong that a deep hole had formed at the site of the explosion and the doors and windows of nearby houses had been broken and the cars parked nearby had been damaged,” the FIR said.
“It was found (through initial investigation) that a big amount of explosive material was detonated in a vehicle,” it added.
According to the FIR, 24 people were injured in the explosion. Of these, three succumbed to their injuries.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar took notice of the blast, and directed the IG to investigate the incident and submit a report. “Those responsible for the blast should be brought under the law,” he said.
Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid also took notice and directed the Punjab chief secretary and the IG to submit a report. The minister prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. “The nature of the blast is being determined,” he said, adding that the federal government would assist the provincial government in investigating the incident.
