LAHORE: The Punjab government on Saturday constituted a five-member joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the Outfall Road truck blast.

Two men were killed and 48 others injured in an explosion in a truck at a parking lot on Outfall Road on Aug 7. The blast damaged more than 100 vehicles in and around the place. Some of the cars went hurtling down due to the impact of the blast and the roof of a school and a building wall collapsed.

According to a notification, “in pursuance of request from Provincial Police Officer, Punjab and in exercise of powers conferred under section 19(I) of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) is hereby constituted to conduct probe and finalize investigation in Case FIR NO. 19/17 under section 302, 324, 427, 109, 120-B of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), 3/4 ESA, 7-ATA of police station CTD Lahore.

“The JIT shall comprise officers including Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Regional Officer Senior Superintendent of Police Muhammad Iqbal, representative of ISI Lahore, representative of Intelligence Bureau Lahore, CIA Inspector Tariq Ilyas Kiyani and PS CTD Lahore Investigation Officer Inspector Muhammad Siddique.”

Another team has yet to complete Ferozepur Road attack probe

The PS CTD Lahore investigation officer, Inspector Muhammad Siddique, would be the investigating officer of the police for the purpose of submission of the report under section 173 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 as required section 19(1) of ATA.

The notification was issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) retried Maj Azam Suleman Khan.

Earlier, the government had constituted a JIT for the suicide blast outside Arfa Kareem IT Tower in which 26 people including nine policemen were killed and 58 others injured.

An investigator, who requested anonymity, told Dawn that the JIT had not yet completed its investigation into Ferozepur Road blast. “There were developments but not at the stage of sharing with the media, he added.

The Outfall Road blast was heard in several areas within the radius of four to five kilometres and it damaged high-voltage wires (132kV) from Saggian Grid Station leaving the area in darkness for hours. A 10 to 15 feet crater developed on the spot and reports suggested that more than 100kg explosive was dumped into the mini truck laden with fruits and vegetables.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2017