Mumbai attacks: 20 more Pakistani suspects identified

Suspects provided logistical support, funds for the attacks

LAHORE: Two years after gunmen mounted commando-style attacks in the financial capital of India, Pakistani agencies have identified 20 more suspects in connection with the Mumbai attacks, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Over 160 people were killed and many more injured when 10 gunmen mounted attacks on Mumbai’s landmarks – including the Taj Mahal Palace hotel – on November 26, 2008. India immediately blamed the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a Pakistan-based charity and its militant  wing Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). New Delhi called off a slow-moving peace process with Pakistan and demanded action against the “perpetrators”.

Pakistan has so far arrested seven suspects, including the alleged mastermind of Mumbai attacks Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi. The six other suspects are Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Younas Anjum, Jamil Ahmed, Mazhar Iqbal and Abdul Maji. All of them are currently facing an in-camera trial in an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi’s Adiyala Jail.

Now the counter-terrorism wing of a Pakistani federal agency has identified another 20 suspects – most of them from the Lashkar-e-Taiba – who had allegedly abetted the Mumbai terror attacks.

According to a classified report, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, the new suspects had allegedly provided logistical and monetary support for the Mumbai attacks.

The report contains complete profiles of the suspects, including their photographs and residential addresses.

According to the report, Muhammad Amjad Khan, s/o Muhammad Siddique, resident of Multan, was organiser of the LeJ and facilitator of the Mumbai attacks in Karachi.

Another suspect has been identified as Iftikhar Ali, s/o Muhammad Anwar, a resident of Browal Colony, in Faisalabad. He had allegedly deposited $250 in Islamabad to obtain Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) connection for terrorism communication.

Shahid Ghafoor, s/o Abdul Ghafoor Aasi, resident of Islami Colony, in Bahawalpur, has been identified as the alleged captain of the boats, Al Hussaini and Al Fouz, which were used by the Mumbai attackers.

Ten more suspects identified as crew members of the two boats are: (1) Abdul Rehman, s/o Khadim Hussain, resident of Fort Abbas tehsil, in Bahawalnagar district (2) Muhammad Usman, s/o Rashid Ahmad, resident of Chicha Watni, in Sahiwal district (3) Ateequr Rehman, s/o Jameelur Rehman, resident of Mughalpura, in Lahore (4) Riaz Ahmed, s/o Ali Muhammad, resident of Jharianwala in Hafizabad district (5) Muhammad Mushtaq, s/o Muhammad Deen, resident of Kamonke, in Gujranwala district (6) Muhammad Naeem, s/o Ghulam Yaseen, resident of Bhakkar Wah Sharqi, in Dera Ghazi Khan district (7) Abdul Shakoor, s/o Reham Din, resident of Korangi, in Karachi and hailing from Dhrema village, in Sargodha district of Punjab (8) Muhammad Sabir Salfi, s/o Abdul Ghafoor, resident of Sameejabad, in Multan district (9)

Muhammad Usman, s/o Bashir Ahmad, resident of Crore Pakka tehsil in Lodhran district and (10) Shakil Ahmad, s/o Sharay Khan, resident of Khandrabad, in Rahim Yar Khan district.

Six more suspects have been identified as financiers of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. They are: Sufyan Zafar, s/o Mustajab Hussain, resident of Mukhtar Colony, in Gujranwala district; Muhammad Usman Zia, s/o Muhammad Bashir Zia, resident of Kolian Hameed, in Rawalpisnid district; Muhammad Abbas Nasir, s/o Islamud Din, resident of Jahanian tehsil in Khanewal district; Javed Iqbal, s/o Muhammad Munir, resident of Chunian, in Kasur district; Mukhtar Ahmed, s/o Muhammad Yar, resident of Phalia tehsil, in Mandi Bahaud Din district; Ahmed Saeed, s/o Muhammad Rafiulllah Mufti, resident of Gajbori village, in Battagram district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

According to the report, another suspect – identified as Muhammad Khan, s/o Shahdad, resident of Tump tehsil, in Turbat district of Balochistan – provided the Al-Hussaini boat to the terrorists for mounting the attack on Mumbai.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2010.