Despite Lahore blast, nation determined to eliminate terrorism: Gen Hayat

Gen Zubair Hayat says armed forces fully committed to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Despite the Lahore blast that killed at least 13 people, the nation is still determined to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan, said Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) chairperson General Zubair Hayat on Wednesday.

Two days after the brutal attack killed and maimed 15 people — including two senior police officers — outside Punjab Assembly, Hayat called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and said Pakistan's armed forces are fully committed to eliminate terrorism from the country with the help of civilian security agencies.



During the meeting, homage was paid to the police officials who lost their lives in the attack. The officials discussed introducing a development programme for armed forces, along with other strategic matters.

Among the 15 people killed in the Lahore blast, six were police officers, said emergency official Ahmad Raza. The toll could have been higher, Raza said, but for two vehicles — a TV news van and a minivan belonging to the protesters — which absorbed much of the impact of the blast.

The Jamaatul Ahrar faction of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack and released a purported picture of the bomber. Though the claim could not be verified independently, the man in the picture released by the group bears resemblance to the one seen by investigators in the CCTV footage.



Investigators from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Crime Scene Unit, Punjab Forensic Science Agency and other law enforcement agencies hosed down the crime scene after collecting vital forensic evidence on Tuesday.