- Commander Roohullah and his aides were reportedly hiding in a house in Burki area
- TTP faction Jamaatul Ahrar claims attack on Rawalpindi imambargah, vows to continue such attacks
- Security beefed up in twin cities, FIR of imambaragh attack registered, investigation team constituted to probe attack
The alleged Lahore chief of the Mullah Fazlullah-led Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) who was also said to be the mastermind of November 2014′s Wagah bombing was killed along with two accomplices in Lahore early on Saturday.
A joint raid was carried out by the police and intelligence sleuths at a house in Burki area on a tip-off regarding the presence of TTP Lahore Commander Mairaj Roohullah, the alleged mastermind of the Wagah attack.
Police officials said their raiding party came under gunfire upon entering the neighbourhood. The three alleged militants opened fire on the raiding party and police fired back in retaliation. The exchange lasted for at least half an hour.
Several blasts were also heard during the exchange of fire. After the firing subsided, security personnel entered the premises and recovered bodies of the three alleged militants.
A huge quantity of arms, explosives, suicide vests, detonators, militant literature and other equipment was recovered during a search of the house.
Police claimed that all three killed hailed from Bajaur Agency and belonged to TTP’s Mullah Fazlullah group. The other two alleged militants were identified as Dr Asadullah and Umar Farooq.
Intelligence sources told Pakistan Today that Roohullah had detonated his explosives after his two aides were killed by bullets fired by law enforcement personnel.
Intelligence agencies had been trying to track down the alleged mastermind of the Wagah attack since the November 2 bombing at the ritual flag-lowering ceremony at Wagah that killed at least 60 people, including several women and children.
Previously, officials had said that the attack had been carefully planned. The suicide bomber had stood just far enough from a picket to avoid a body search.
It was learnt that the attackers had brought two suicide jackets to Wagah border; one claimed the lives of 60 people, while the other was found undetonated near the site of the explosion the next day. Police suspected that the vests were transported in one of the trucks arriving at the NLC Yard.
A TTP spokesman had claimed the attack, calling it the first in a series of attacks in retaliation for Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan.
TTP FACTION CLAIMS PINDI ATTACK:
In the meanwhile, Jamaatul Ahrar (JA) faction of TTP on Saturday claimed responsibility for Friday’s bomb attack on Imambargah Ibne Muhammad Rizvi in Rawalpindi’s Chatian Hatian area, which killed eight people and wounded 16 others.
The explosion on Friday triggered chaos at the imambargah where Shia devotees had gathered to distribute alms to mark the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
“We claim responsibility of the attack on the imambargah and vow to continue such attacks,” JA spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan reportedly said in an email.
Earlier, angry locals had insisted that the heinous act was a sectarian attack. This area, they said, had been the site of tensions in November 2013, when a standoff between the Taleemul Quran seminary and the Muharram procession resulted in full-blown riots in Rawalpindi.
VICTIMS’ FUNERAL PRAYERS OFFERED:
The funeral prayers of Friday night’s blast victims were offered at Liaquat Bagh, attended by thousands of people who raised slogans against terrorists and vowed to confront them whatever the consequences.
The All Pakistan Shia Action Committee announced three-day mourning. Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen, Shia Ulema Council, Jafria Alliance and Tahafuz-e-Azadari Council have also demanded to hang terrorists indiscriminately.
FIR REGISTERED:
In the meanwhile, the First Information Report (FIR) of the attack was registered at Waris Khan Police Station on Saturday.
The case was registered on a complaint lodged by the custodian of the imambargah under charges of murder, attempted murder, terrorism, possessing and using banned explosives.
A Joint Investigation Team (JIT), headed by Rawal Town SP, was also constituted to probe the incident and submit its report within 14 days.
Waris Khan Police Station SHO Raja Abdul Rasheed was selected as the investigating officer.
SECURITY TIGHTENED IN ISLAMABAD:
Following the incident, security was put on high alert in Islamabad.
Islamabad inspector general of Police (IGP) supervised the security arrangements and instructed police officials to remain on high security alert and to perform snap checks in various areas.
He also called for extra vigilance at all entry and exit points of Islamabad as well as effective patrolling in the city.
Rawalpindi CCPO Laleka dispelled earlier reports that the explosion was a suicide blast.
“It was not a suicide blast and the explosives were planted outside a house in Chatian Hatian area.”
FIVE SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN ATTOCK:
Police have arrested five suspected terrorists in Attock during raids in the city, Attock district police officer (DPO) said Saturday.
The suspects were identified as Inamur Raheem, Usman Jalil, Shamsur Rehman, Dr Arif and Kausar. They have confessed their involvement in various incidents of target killings, the DPO said.
He said the suspects are affiliated with a banned organisation and have links with terrorists in North Waziristan and Afghanistan. The suspects used to move to Afghanistan after carrying out terrorist activities in the country, he added.
