Allama Iqbal Town gas explosion: Experts do not rule out sabotage

* Liquefied petroleum gas prices increase three times

By Shahnawaz Khan

LAHORE: A team of officials from the law enforcement agencies and the bomb disposal squad (BDS) is investigating whether the gas explosion in Allama Iqbal Town was rigged or accidental, a senior police officer, who asked not to be named, told Daily Times on Thursday.

He said that the team had inspected the site of the explosion late on Wednesday night, but had not found any clear-cut evidence so far. Mian Amer Mehmood, Lahore nazim, has also formed a special inquiry committee to inspect the site.

Sub-Inspector Riaz Rasheed, investigating officer, told Daily Times that circumstantial evidence showed that the gas cylinders exploded by accident. He said that the police had found out that the owners used to purchase gas in bulk and refill small cylinders. He said that the police were looking for the gas refilling machinery in the debris.

He said that the police had not been able to arrest Ghulam Muhammad Khokhar, the owner of the building. He said that Khokhar was an employee of the Water And Power Development Authority (WAPDA), but had resigned a few years ago. He then built two buildings, one in Kamran block and another on Wahdat Road, and rented them out.

Most shops selling LPG gas were closed on Thursday. The shops that were open sold LPG at Rs 70 per kilogramme, which was being sold for Rs 25 before the incident. Police teams conducted several raids in the provincial metropolis on Thursday and arrested people for illegally selling LPG.

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