LAHORE: The Punjab government constituted on Thursday a five-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to carry out investigation into the Pathankot airbase attack.

The JIT was constituted after Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) registered a First-Information Report (FIR) against the alleged attackers and abettors of the attack. The JIT would also be visiting the airbase next month to gather evidence subject to permission by the Indian government.

Earlier, a six member team formed by the federal government was carrying out investigation into the case.

The JIT comprises Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Additional Inspector General of Police (IGP) Muhammad Tahir Rai (convener), Lahore Deputy Director General (DDG) Intelligence Bureau Mohammad Azim Arshad, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt-Col Tanvir Ahmed, Military Intelligence Lt-Col Irfan Mirza and Gujjaranwala CTD Investigating Officer Shahid Tanveer (members).

Five terrorists and seven Indian army personnel were killed in a gun battle at Pathankot airbase on Jan 2, just days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a ‘surprise’ visit to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Raiwind residence.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2016