Three cops martyred in Lahore attacks laid to rest

LAHORE:

Funeral prayers for three policemen martyred in separate firing incidents in Lahore were offered at Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh on Friday as law-enforcement agencies intensified their investigation into the attacks.

Sub-Inspector Adeel Ashiq, Head Constable Asad and Constable Haris Saleem were laid to rest after senior military, civil and police officials, including the Corps Commander Lahore, Punjab Finance Minister, Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, IG Punjab Abdul Kareem and CCPO Lahore, attended the funeral prayers.

A smartly turned-out police contingent presented a guard of honour to the martyrs, while senior officials laid floral wreaths and offered Fateha. The bodies were later transported to their native areas under full police protocol for burial.

According to police, the three officials were targeted by armed men in separate incidents in Lahore. Police suspect Rehan Butt and his accomplices of being involved in the attacks.

Police said Rehan had allegedly threatened Sub-Inspector Adeel Ashiq over his role in the killing of Rehan's brother, Faizan Butt, who was killed in a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) encounter in 2024.

A case had also been registered against Rehan on Adeel's complaint.

Investigators have widened their probe after finding similarities between the firing incidents at Badami Bagh and Yateem Khana Chowk. They are examining whether the attacks were linked and are collecting forensic and other evidence.

Constable Haris was martyred while three policemen and a passer-by were injured in the Yateem Khana Chowk attack.

The injured were shifted to Shaikh Zayed Hospital, where DIG Operations Faisal Kamran visited them and directed doctors to provide the best possible treatment.