Five distinct joint investigative teams (JITs) have been established by the Punjab Home Department to look into the May 9 arson attacks on Askari Tower and the Corps Commander House in Lahore.
According to departmental notifications, the five JITs will look into instances of vandalism and arson at buildings inside the high-security zone of the provincial capital. All JITs will look into instances related to the attack on the military sites that were reported to the city’s various police stations on May 9.
Four officers from the city’s police force and the Iqbal Town Superintendent of Police (SP) Investigation Dr. Aqeela Niaz Naqvi have formed a single JIT to investigate the FIR No. 108/23 in various sections that was filed on May 13 under PPC,7-ATA 1997 in the Sarwar Road police station.
With City Division SP Investigation Dr. Raza Tanveer serving as the chairperson, two JITs have been created. In case FIR No. 1570/23 on May 11 under PPC, 7-ATA 1997 in the Mughalpura police station, one was formed with five additional officers as members, and another was formed with four members in case FIR No. 109/23 on May 13 under PPC, 7-ATA 1997 in the Sarwar Road police station.
On May 12 under PPC, 7-ATA 1997 in the Gulberg police station, a fourth JIT would be chaired by Sadar Division SP Investigation Abdul Hannan with four officers serving as members in the case FIR No. 1283/23 under several parts.
On May 10 under PPC, 7-ATA 1997 in the Gulberg police station, Lahore Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Investigation Dr. Anoosh Masood, who is the chairperson of the fifth JIT, would be joined by four officers as participants in the investigation of case FIR No.1271/23 IN different parts.
It is known that a number of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, employees, and fans participated in the attack in this high-security area of Lahore after they arrived there to voice their opposition to Imran Khan, the party’s chairman, being detained on May 9.
According to the judgment of the powerful National Security Committee (NSC), the anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has so far permitted turning over 16 detainees who are allegedly connected to the assault to the military’s commanding commander for prosecution under the Army Act.
They were mentioned in two different lawsuits brought over the attack. All of the arsonists and assailants responsible for destroying both public and private property as well as military sites while posing as protesters will be punished, according to the country’s civil and military authorities.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) described the unprecedented violence as a “black chapter” in the history of the nation and vowed to prosecute the rioters in accordance with the Army Act and other pertinent legislation.
