Lahore: A powerful car bomb exploded outside the house of banned Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed here on Wednesday, killing at least three people and injuring 21 others.
The blast took place at a police picket outside Saeed’s residence at the BOR Society in Jauhar Town, resulting in serious injuries to some police officers guarding his house. The windows and walls of Saeed’s house were damaged from the impact of the blast, Pakistani media reported.
Inspector General of Police (Punjab) Inam Ghani said there could have been a “major loss” had there been no police picket outside the house of the high-profile personality, referring to Saeed.
The 71-year-old radical cleric has been serving a jail sentence at the high-security Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore for his conviction in militancy financing cases.
The blast sparked rumours that Saeed was present in the house.
Ghani said at least three people were killed in the car bomb blast while 21 others were injured.
No group has claimed responsibility for the blast.
“Explosive material was installed in the car. There was a police picket outside the high-value target’s house. The car could not cross the police picket,” Ghani said, describing it as “a terror” act.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has taken over the blast site and investigating from all aspects, he said.
Ghani also claimed that “hostile” intelligence agencies could be involved in the blast.
According to an initial report prepared by investigative agencies, more than 30 kgs of explosives were used in the blast, Geo TV reported.
The initial report also said that “foreign-made materials” were used in the blast. It said the material had been planted onto a car and the device was detonated remotely, the channel reported, citing sources.
A 3 feet deep and 8 feet wide crater has been formed at the site of the blast, the report said, adding that the blast caused damage within a 100-square feet radius.
Citing witnesses, it said the windows of nearby houses and buildings were shattered in the explosion. The sound of the blast was so loud that it was heard faraway.
A roof of a house caved in because of the impact of the blast, says Rescue 1122. Several cars parked close to the buildings were also damaged.
The injured people have been shifted to the Jinnah Hospital where the condition of six of them is said to be critical.
“The injured also include policemen. The condition of six injured of the 17 admitted to hospital is critical,” said Dr Yahya Sultan of Jinnah Hospital.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid directed the Punjab chief secretary and IG to submit a report.
“The nature of the blast is being determined,” he said, adding that the federal agencies are assisting the Punjab government in the investigation.
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar instructed that those responsible for the explosion be brought to justice and the best possible medical aid be provided to the injured.
The US Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. He was listed under the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
