Bomb explosion outside Hafiz Saeed’s house kills 3

Security officials inspect the site of an explosion that killed at least three people and wounded several others in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore on Wednesday. Pic/AFP

A powerful car bomb went off outside the house of Mumbai terror attack mastermind and banned Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed here on Wednesday, killing at least three people and injuring over 20 others, police said. The blast took place at a police picket outside Saeed's residence at the BOR Society in Jauhar Town.

Inspector General of Police (Punjab), Inam Ghani said there could have been a "major loss" had there been no police picket outside the house of the high-profile personality, referring to Saeed.

He said three people were killed in the car bomb blast while more than 20 others were injured. "Explosive material was installed in the car. There was a police picket outside the high-value target's house. The car could not cross the police picket," Ghani said, describing it as "a terror" act.

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has taken over the blast site and investigating from all aspects, he said. "The CTD will determine whether the blast was a suicide blast, if a device was used," he said.

Ghani also claimed that "hostile" intelligence agencies could be involved in this blast. The injured people have been shifted to the Jinnah Hospital where the condition of six of them is said to be critical.

"The injured also include policemen. The condition of six injured of the 17 admitted to hospital is critical," said Dr Yahya Sultan of Jinnah Hospital. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid directed the Punjab chief secretary and IG to submit a report. "The nature of the blast is being determined," he said, adding that the federal agencies are assisting the Punjab government in the investigation. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar instructed that those responsible for the explosion be brought to justice and the best possible medical aid be provided to the injured.

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