SAHIWAL: The mysterious blast that demolished local water management office building located at Jamal Chowk, Pakpattan, on Friday evening might be part of a botched up attempt to steal money.

According to police, three men -- Murtaza, Ijaz and Muhammad Ahmed -- who were inside the building when the blast occurred and got critically injured, have been taken into custody. The police have shifted them to Pakpattan District Headquarters Hospital.

The hospital sources said the critically injured suspects had suffered ‘third degree’ burns.

Local police cordoned off the blast site for three hours, while it took the Rescue 1122 firefighters about 50 minutes to control the fire.

According to the Bomb Disposal Squad officials, it was not a bomb blast as it was being apprehended immediately after the incident that created panic in the nearby localities.

They were of the view that the blast might have been caused by some highly combustible material like petrol.

Pakpattan District Police Officer Shah Nawaz Sandhela who visited the blast site late in the night ruled out the possibility of sabotage.

The DPO citing initial findings said the blast occurred when some staffers of Water Management Office tried to steal Rs0.1 million lying in the office by making the incident look like an accidental fire.

He said the police arrested water management District Officer Rana Waqar, along with his two watchmen for interrogation.

According to eyewitness, there was a lot of smoke and fire after the blast.

Pakpattan District coordination Officer Javed Akhter Mahmood, who also visited the site, said initial investigations showed the blast occurred when some water management staffers tried to steal the cash.

An FIR of the incident was yet to be registered.

WALK: The District Population Department organised a walk on the World Population Day on Saturday.

The walk was held from Shaikh Qayyum Hospital to the Tehsil Council hall.

The participants were carrying banners and placards.

Earlier, the department also organised an essay-writing competition among educational institutions of Sahiwal division.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2015

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