10 injured in rickshaw blast in Lahore's Chauburji area

Published November 29, 2019
CTD officials examining the site of the blast that occurred in Lahore's Chauberji area on Friday. — DawnNewsTV
CTD officials examining the site of the blast that occurred in Lahore's Chauberji area on Friday. — DawnNewsTV

At least 10 people were injured in an explosion that occurred in a rickshaw in Lahore's Chauburji area on Friday, officials said.

According to the spokesperson for Punjab's Counterterrorism Department (CTD), the blast occurred at around 11:25am.

"Ten persons have been injured including the driver of the rickshaw. All sustained minor injuries. All of the injured were walking near the rickshaw at the time of the blast," he said.

A statement released by the CTD spokesperson said that a passenger had boarded the rickshaw and got off at Samanabad after paying the fare. "The passenger was carrying a shopping bag which he probably left in the rickshaw," said the official, adding that the driver "had not noticed it".

According to the statement, the driver parked his rickshaw on Multan Road and got off to relieve himself nearby. That is when the blast occurred.

The statement said that based on the BDS (Bomb Disposal Squad) and PFSA (Punjab Forensic Science Agency) staff’s initial assessment, the blast could have been caused by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device). "Weight and nature (of the explosive device) will be determined later on after analysis," it added.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Inam Waheed, who oversees investigations, while speaking to the media said that the police's initial impression was that it was a blast from a gas cylinder. "After investigating, we discovered that was not the case."

"We have also retrieved some ball bearings from the crime scene," he added.

He said that though nothing final could be stated at this point, "we can estimate that 3-5 kilogrammes of explosives were used."

An FIR is being registered at the CTD police station in Lahore and further investigations are underway, said the CTD statement.

The incident comes a day after the facilitator of the Data Darbar suicide bombing earlier this year was sentenced to death. The blast, which occurred on May 8, had left as many as 12 people, including 5 security personnel of the Elite Force, dead.

Opinion

Editorial

Balanced approach
02 Jun, 2023

Balanced approach

POLITICAL equations are never easy to engineer, let alone solve. A political crisis should either be allowed to burn...
Rise in attacks
02 Jun, 2023

Rise in attacks

AN enduring security dilemma for Pakistan has been the issue of cross-border havens in Afghanistan for militants,...
Narrowing the gap
02 Jun, 2023

Narrowing the gap

THE rupee made a substantial recovery of 11.5 against the dollar in the open market a day after the State Bank...
Free, fair & timely
Updated 01 Jun, 2023

Free, fair & timely

The stakeholders need to take a step back and let democracy take its course.
Virtual SCO summit
01 Jun, 2023

Virtual SCO summit

HOSTING multilateral summits is a matter of great prestige for states, as world leaders gather at the same table to...
Missing anchorperson
Updated 01 Jun, 2023

Missing anchorperson

IT gives insight into the obduracy of those in whose custody Imran Riaz Khan is being held that multiple appeals ...