Cop martyred in CTD police station blast

PESHAWAR: One official of the Counter Terrorism Department was martyred and two were wounded in explosions in the CTD police station on University Road Sunday morning.

Senior police officials said as per the initial investigations, there was no terrorism involved. The officials said the blast, followed by other explosions, was caused by the explosives kept in armoury of the police station that went off due to short-circuiting.

A portion of the police station building caved in after the explosions. Police and security forces cordoned off the area immediately after the blast in the CTD police station, which is located in the Cantonment area close to Gora Qabristan.

The bomb disposal unit and rescue workers also rushed to the spot for the operations. “The explosives in the police station’s armoury went off, probably due to short-circuiting. As per initial investigation, there is no terrorism involved,” Capital City Police Officer Mian Saeed Ahmad told the media. He said after the first blast, the fire spread to other ammunition, which led to more explosions. The CCPO said all the accused in the lock up have been safely shifted.

Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed has sought a report about the incident from additional IG CTD within five days. The funeral prayers for the martyred cop Bilal Ahmad was offered at the Police Lines where salute was also presented to the coffin of the fallen hero. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, IGP Zulfiqar Hameed, CCPO Mian Saeed, Additional IG CTD Jawad Qamar and others attended the funeral.