Lahore: An explosion near Hafiz Saeed's residence killed three people and injured several others

 Lahore: An explosion near Hafiz Saeed's residence killed three people and injured several others

 Lahore: An explosion near Hafiz Saeed's residence killed three people and injured several others

 

A blast near the residence of Hafiz Saeed, head of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa in the Punjab city of Lahore has killed three people and injured several others.

 According to Zia-ur-Rehman, a Voice of America correspondent in Lahore, the blast took place in Johar Town and Hafiz Saeed's residence a few meters away.

 The blast damaged nearby homes and destroyed several vehicles.

 Police, Rangers, Counter Terrorism Department personnel and Hafiz Saeed's bodyguards also rushed to the spot after the blast.

 Talking to media at the spot, Inspector General of Punjab Police Inam Ghani said that policemen were also injured in the blast as there was a police check post near the site of the blast.

Asked about possible targeting of Hafiz Saeed's residence, Inspector General of Punjab Police Inam Ghani said the vehicle could not reach the 'high value' target's residence due to a police check post. Initially, however, it appeared that the police had been targeted.

 Last year, Hafiz Saeed, head of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa, was sentenced by a court to a total of 10 and a half years in prison on charges of raising funds for the banned organization and illegal possession.

 According to reports, Hafiz Saeed has been detained. However, it is not known where he was kept and whether he was present at his residence in Johar Town.

 India has blamed Hafiz Saeed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks and demanded his extradition from Pakistan.

 According to police, the nature of the blast was not immediately known.

 Police cordoned off the area and evacuated journalists and others from the site of the blast.

 Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid has taken notice of the Johar Town blast and demanded a report from IG Punjab.

 According to the Home Minister, federal agencies are assisting the Punjab government in the investigation and information is being gathered about the nature of the blast.

 Opposition leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif condemned the Lahore blast, saying the attack in the heart of the city showed that the government was not paying much attention to law and order.