ISLAMABAD-
The attackers of Malala Yousafzai have been arrested from Swat by Pakistani troops, Inter-services Public Relations stated on Friday.
Director General ISPR Asim Bajwa told a media briefing in Islamabad that the 10 attackers belong to a militant group called ‘Shura’.
Malala, an education rights activist, was attacked on 9 October 2012 on her way back from school in Mingora, Swat. She was shot thrice in the attack which was later claimed by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
One of the bullets hit the left side of her forehead, traveled under her skin the length of her face and then into her shoulder.
She remained in a critical condition for days and was then shifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England for treatment.
Bajwa said that Israrur Rehman was the first militant group member busted and apprehended by the troops. Acting upon the information received during his interrogation, all other members of the militant group were arrested.
“It was an intelligence based joint operation conducted by ISI, police and military,” he said.
“The group was led by Zafar Iqbal, an owner of a furniture shop of Swat. He was in contact with TTP head Mulla Fazlullah, who was operating from Kunar province of Afghanistan.”
The militants will now be tried in anti-terrorism court, he added.
The DG added that all terrorists involved in attack on Quiad-e-Azam Residency in Ziarat, Balochistan have also been arrested.
Eliminating terrorists
Briefing about the ongoing operation Zarb-e-Azb , Bajwa said that the military operation going on in North Waziristan to eliminate local and foreign militants continues as per plan.
He added that so far 2200 covert operations have been conducted by the army to eliminate terrorists across Pakistan in which 43 key terrorists have been killed and 133 have been arrested.
Speaking on the recent attacks on military bases in Quetta and Karachi, Bajwa said that the attacks were averted successfully by the security troops.
“We successfully foiled attacks on Quetta Airbase and Karachi’s Naval Dockyard,” he stated while adding that assistance from intelligence agencies proved helpful in the attack in Karachi.
Support for democracy
Going over the political situation, DG ISPR said that Pakistan Army has clearly extended its support for democracy and Constitution and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif had made it clear in his address on Youm-e-Shuhda that the armed forces believe in democracy.
He added that the army has no connection to the ongoing political activity in the federal capital.