Investigators probing the targeted killings of three police personnel in Lahore on Saturday uncovered further details about the suspected network, including an alleged link to Afghanistan, according to police and investigative sources.

Investigators traced the target-killer gang through a tracker installed in a vehicle, sources said.

The suspects allegedly abandoned the official vehicle and its driver near Muridke after learning that the vehicle was being tracked.

The suspects also switched off their mobile phones after allegedly opening fire on police to prevent their locations from being traced, according to the sources.

Police have expanded the investigation to include relatives of Rehan Butt and Fayyaz Butt.

Officials are also questioning some personnel who allegedly remained in contact with the suspected target killers.

Investigators are examining the mobile phone records and social media accounts of the relevant personnel to determine whether they had any contact with the suspects or provided them with assistance.

Police allegedly lured to the scene

Investigators had earlier determined that the police personnel were allegedly summoned to the scene through a false tip as part of a planned attack.

According to the investigation, Fayyaz Butt used an intermediary to inform police that his wanted son, Rehan Butt, had returned home and could be arrested.

Sub-Inspector Adeel Ashiq and Head Constable Asad reached the location after receiving the information and were allegedly targeted in the firing.

Police said Rehan Butt had previously threatened Sub-Inspector Ashiq over the phone and a case had been registered against him.

Alleged Afghanistan connection

Investigative sources said Fayyaz Butt’s elder son, Faizan Butt, had been arrested around two years ago in a case involving illegal weapons. During his imprisonment, he allegedly met Rauf Gujjar, who was reportedly associated with a banned organisation.

According to the sources, Gujjar arranged Faizan’s bail by paying Rs500,000 and later sent him to Afghanistan.

In Afghanistan’s Khorasan region, Faizan allegedly met a man identified as Asim, who investigators claim assigned him a task to kill six police personnel in Lahore.

Investigators allege that after returning to Pakistan, Faizan targeted three police personnel before being killed in a police encounter.

Following the attacks, police launched a search for the suspects. Fayyaz Butt and his son Rehan Butt were later killed in an alleged police encounter near Sheikhupura, according to police.

Third suspect remains at large

Police said another alleged accomplice, identified as Tariq, has yet to be arrested.

The 32-year-old suspect is reportedly a resident of Azad Kashmir and was allegedly living with Rehan Butt. Police are conducting raids at different locations to trace and arrest him.

Meanwhile, investigators have widened the probe after recovering a hand grenade from the house of an alleged target killer in Misri Shah.

Police are examining CCTV footage, mobile phone records and other evidence to identify those involved in the killings and determine whether any facilitators assisted the suspects.

The funeral prayers for Sub-Inspector Adeel Ashiq, Head Constable Asad and Constable Haris Saleem, who were killed in separate firing incidents in Badami Bagh and Nawan Kot, have already been offered at Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh.

Civil and military leaders and senior police officials attended the funeral.