Four held as probe begins into Lahore, Karachi blasts

ISLAMABAD - Four suspects have been held as investigations began into Tuesday’s bombings in Lahore and Karachi that left 15 people dead, a media report said.

Dunya TV reported that police have sealed the Lahore blast site near the revered shrine Data Darbar, where the saint’s 967th birth anniversary celebrations were underway.

The funeral of three policemen killed in the blast was held Wednesday morning.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced Rs.3 million each for the dead policemen.

The police officials stopped a teenager for checking at a security cordon when the bomber blew himself up.

In Karachi, Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) officials Wednesday visited the blast site in Malir halt area and collected evidence.

It was initially reported Tuesday evening that it was a suicide blast that targetted a police van, killing two people.

However, the bomb disposal squad has concluded that “it was a time device planted in a motorbike”. “They also collected forensic samples from the scene.”

“The head found from the spot was of a police recruit who was trying to remove the motorbike from the scene,” they added.

“They casualty rate could have been much higher if the bomb had exploded during a Shiite congregation that was supposed to reach there after a while,” police said.

The Sindh government has announced Rs.two million each for the dead police officials.

Pakistan has been severely hit by the menace of terrorism over the last few years as the country’s security forces are engaged in a fight with Taliban and Al-Qaeda in the northwestern province and tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

Thousands of people have been killed in several high intensity blasts across Pakistan during this period as Taliban, who have claimed responsibility for these attacks, are now targeting urban centres.