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Lahore police attack in Badami Bagh has left two police personnel martyred after armed assailants opened fire on them on Thursday evening, prompting a major investigation and a search operation for those responsible.
The victims were identified as Sub-Inspector Adeel Ashiq and Head Constable Asad, who were posted at Lorry Adda police station. Police said the two officers came under targeted fire within the jurisdiction of Badami Bagh police station and later succumbed to their injuries.
Two Officers Martyred in Badami Bagh
According to police, armed attackers opened fire on the officers before fleeing the area. The two personnel suffered critical gunshot wounds and were subsequently declared dead.
The incident was one of two targeted attacks on police personnel reported in Lahore on Thursday night. Dawn reported that three Punjab policemen were killed in separate incidents, while several others were injured.
The attack prompted an immediate security response in Badami Bagh, with police cordoning off the area and collecting evidence from the crime scene.
DIG Operations Lahore Faisal Kamran reached the scene with a heavy police contingent and supervised the initial investigation.
Police Launch Investigation and Raids
Following the attack, police teams were directed to track down those responsible and conduct raids at suspected hideouts.
Authorities initially identified Rehan Butt as the alleged main suspect and began efforts to establish the identities and whereabouts of other individuals believed to have been involved.
The Punjab police leadership also took notice of the incident and directed officers to use all available resources to apprehend the suspects.
Police officials said the investigation was being conducted from multiple angles as investigators worked to establish the motive and reconstruct the sequence of events.
Rehan Butt Identified as Key Suspect
The investigation has focused particular attention on Rehan Butt, whom police have described as a wanted and potentially dangerous suspect.
Sub-Inspector Adeel had previously reported receiving threats from Rehan Butt, according to police records by pulse pakistan
The complaint was filed in December 2024 following the killing of Faizan Butt, who was described by police as a suspected associate of a proscribed organisation and was killed in a Counter Terrorism Department encounter.
This previous confrontation has led investigators to examine whether the Badami Bagh shooting was connected to an earlier police operation.
However, the precise motive and responsibility for the attack remained under investigation as authorities gathered further evidence.
Investigation Expands Beyond Badami Bagh
Developments after the initial attack have expanded the investigation.
Police later reported that two suspects, identified as Rehan Butt and his father Fayyaz Butt, were killed in an alleged encounter near Sheikhupura. Authorities also identified another alleged suspect, Tariq, who was reportedly in contact with Rehan Butt.
The developments came as authorities investigated a series of attacks against police personnel in Lahore.
Separately, Anadolu Agency reported that Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the Badami Bagh attack. The claim was reported by the agency and should be treated as an allegation pending independent verification.
Police officials have vowed to pursue all those involved and bring them before the law.
DIG Faisal Kamran described the deaths of the officers as a serious loss and said the sacrifice of the personnel would not be allowed to go in vain.
The latest developments underline continuing security concerns surrounding targeted attacks on law-enforcement personnel in Punjab, while investigators continue to examine possible links between the Badami Bagh shooting, previous police encounters and the wider network of suspects. see more on Pulse Pakistan
