LAHORE: A day after the deadly &ldq
uo;gas blast” that killed 10 people in Lahore, security forces carried out search
operation in different localities of the city, arresting 14 suspects.
According to our correspondent, the search
operation was jointly conducted by Rangers and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Nishtar Colony.
It was a first search
operation by the paramilitary forces who have acquired special policing powers for raids and
operation across Punjab. During house-to-house search, bio-data of the area residents was also checked.
Meanwhile, security was beefed up at mosques, imambargahs and other sensitive
places ahead of Jumma prayers.
A powerful explosion in the upscale DHA area killed 10 people and injured 35 others, only 10 days after a suicide bomb attack righ
t in front of the Punjab Assembly that claimed 15 lives.
The blast crumpled cars and sent panic rippling through the city after a wave of attacks across Pakistan, killing more than 130 people this month.
The explosion, occurred at an under-construction cafe in the Defence Housing Authority area’s Z Block, killed café owner Moazam Paracha, who was also chief executive officer of telecom company Airlink.
Contradictory statements following the blast created confusion and deepened the myst
ery about nature of the blast. It was either termed a cylinder or a time bomb. Later in the day, some police officers returned to the original claim that it was a cylinder explosion.
Rana Sanaullah claimed on Friday that it was not an act of terrorism but an accident. He said the blast was caused by gas leakage. No group has yet claimed responsibility.
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