LAHORE: The Punjab government on Saturday constituted a four-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the DHA Z-Block cylinder blast and also fix the responsibility.

The JIT was constituted after the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) report ruled out possibility of presence of any explosive material in the building of an under-construction Alfarno Café. As many as 10 people were killed and 35 others injured when ground floor of the restaurant caved in after a powerful explosion in the basement.

The JIT led by Investigation DIG Sultan Chaudhry would probe the incident to ascertain as to what went wrong that resulted in explosion. They would also take action against the people involved in negligence. The other JIT members include CIA SP Tariq Mastoi, Defence Circle ASP Anosh Masood and Cantonment Division CIA DSP Rana Zahid.

The team will investigate the incident from various angles, fix responsibility and also suggest action against the people who committed negligence.

CCPO Amin Wains told Dawn that the forensic experts ruled out the possibility of bomb explosion.

He said they would also check why the owner of the restaurant placed cylinders in the building and why the gas leakage took place.

He said they would also contact engineers to check whether or not the building was constructed after completing safety measures.

Meanwhile, the City Division police conducted a search operation in and around the Manzoor Colony and Afghan Basti. Police were using biometric devices to check the identities of the people living in the area.

The police team checked over 160 people and took 50 suspects into custody for further inquiries and shifted them to Lower Mall police station.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2017