Police arrests all accused involved in Lahore’s Johar Town blast: CM Punjab

He made the announcement while addressing the presser alongside Inspector General (IG) Punjab Inam Ghani and Advisor to CM Firdous Ashiq Awan.

“Punjab government formed an investigating team right after the blast. The investigations revealed that foreign agencies were involved in the blast. It took law enforcement agencies 16 hours to trace accused involved in blast. Around 10 Pakistanis were involved in the blast. All accused were arrested in a highly professional manner,” he said while commending the efficient role of security agencies.

CM further stated that three people were killed while 22 sustained injuries in the blast.

Speaking on occasion, IG Punjab Inam Ghani said that the details of network were obtained in few hours.

“We traced the accused after identifying the car involved in terrorist attack. We have also arrested those involved in repairing the car used in blast,” he said adding that a JIT has been formed to further investigate the matter.

IG Punjab further stated that the actual target of terrorists was police check-post.

Three people were killed and scores were left injured when a vehicle laden with explosives blew up in Lahore’s Johar Town last week.

According to official handout issued by the DGPR Punjab, the CTD investigated scientifically and the perpetrators of the blast were identified within 16 hours. All the international and local actors were identified and terrorists were arrested within four days by conducting raids in different areas.

All the terrorists involved in recce, installation of explosive material, blast, as well as the buyer of the vehicle and its handing over, have been arrested which is a big achievement of the Punjab government.

Similarly, the ministers were deputed to ensure the best treatment for the injured and I also went to Jinnah Hospital to inquire after the patients, he added. It was a challenge and we are thankful to Almighty Allah for achieving success, he added. Meanwhile, no alert was issued with regard to such an occurrence and financial aid is being given to the injured and the martyrs' heirs.

The CM also extended congratulations to the police, CTD and law enforcement agencies adding that all the pieces of evidence have been gleaned from the local terrorists which prove that international characters are involved in terror financing of this terrorists' network. According to the facts, an agency of the enemy country is directly involved in this activity and it provided all the financial support to this network.

The CM expressed the satisfaction that the Punjab government has traced all the high-profile cases and criminals have been brought under the net of the law. Similarly, Punjab Safe Cities Authority is best performing and its cameras have also been replaced. The requirements of PSCA will be met on a priority basis, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, IG Police Inam Ghani said he also examined the crime scene and Punjab police and the CTD successfully dug out the whole network of terrorists. All the members of this network are under the custody of the law; he added and disclosed that ten Pakistani male and female citizens, attacked with this network, have been arrested.

The mastermind has also been identified, he said. A joint investigation team is conducting investigations and arrested criminals will be given exemplary punishment. 

To a question, the IG said no criminal is included in the fourth schedule. The vehicle snatched in 2010 was recovered in 2011 and now it was being used on 'superdari' (custody). One arrested criminal from KPK fluently speaks Punjabi, he said. The police stopped this vehicle and checked it at a picket and its footage is available.

The last terrorist activity occurred in Punjab in November 2020 and now the Johar Town blast was aimed at creating a bad international image. However, the police and CTD worked hard to trace and arrest the terrorists, concluded the IG.