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

Power lunch
Updated 20 Jun, 2025

Power lunch

However things develop in the Israel-Iran war, Pakistan must maintain its position, and stand by its neighbouring state.
Refuge denied
20 Jun, 2025

Refuge denied

ON World Refugee Day, it is essential we confront the scale of human displacement, which has now reached...
Income tax rate
20 Jun, 2025

Income tax rate

FINALLY, some clarity. After the confusion created over the applicable rate on the lowest income tax bracket due to...
Brewing catastrophe
Updated 19 Jun, 2025

Brewing catastrophe

If Mr Trump makes the mistake of plunging into the fight on Israel’s behalf, the world will enter very dangerous territory.
Pension bill
19 Jun, 2025

Pension bill

IT is, indeed, a worrying conundrum. The federal government’s annual pension burden now exceeds its fiscal space...
Abandoned Karachi
19 Jun, 2025

Abandoned Karachi

THE explosive mix of decay, institutional apathy and corruption has, once again, placed Karachi among the bottom ...