Fatal shoot-out: Six ‘terrorists’ killed in encounter

Two arrested suspects had earlier been freed by their accomplices

LAHORE: Six suspected terrorists, including two allegedly involved in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal parking bombing, were killed in an encounter with the police in Sheikhupura early on Saturday.

A Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) spokesperson said that CTD team was taking suspects Shahidullah and Khanzeb to Sheikhupura for the recovery of arms and ammunition.

As they neared Sheikhupura’s Factory Area, eight gunmen emerged and attacked the CTD personnel. The assailants managed to help their accomplices escape at around 10 pm on Friday. The team later received a tip-off, stating the suspected hid in an under-construction vegetable market.

The CTD conducted a raid and was fired upon as soon as they reached the location in the wee hours of Saturday. When the resulting shootout came to an end, the police party moved forward and saw six suspects lying in a pool of blood. Two of the dead were identified as Shahidullah and Khanzaib, who had been arrested by CTD for being involved in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park bombing.

The team recovered a Kalashnikov, a rifle, two pistols and as many motorcycles from the scene. They were searching for their accomplices and investigating the matter further.

On March 27, 2016, at least 72 persons were killed and over 340 people injured, most of them women and children, in a suicide blast at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park. TTP Jamatul Ahrar accepted responsibility for the attack. A case was registered against unidentified suspects and a team involving officers from a federal secret agency, intelligence bureau and CTD started investigations.

The inquiry report stated that the order for the attack was given by TTP Ahrar Ameer Amir Abdul Wali. It added Amir Muhammad Khan masterminded the plan and Shaukat, Tawakkal Jan prepared suicide jackets for the attack.

Omar Khalid Khorasani sent the suicide bomber, Nasir, to Lahore. Ibrahim, the father of Ajab Gul, escorted him to Lahore from Afghanistan. Three suspects Muzzamal, Abdul Mannan and Hukam Khan received him in Lahore. Hukam Khan hosted the bomber for two days at his house.

Shahid and Khanzeb conducted reconnaissance of the park and were at the scene during the time of the blast. The report added that the bomber did not enter the park through the main gate, but through a side wall that was broken. He was wearing a veil (burka) at the time of the attack and was in the guise of a woman.

All the suspects belonged to Mohmand Agency. The suicide bomber died at the time of the attack and two suspects, Shahidullah and Khanzeb, were arrested, but shot dead in Saturday’s encounter. Eight suspects Hukam Khan, Muzzamal Khan, Abdul Khanan, Tawakal Jaan, Muhammad Khan, Shaukat Khan, Ibrahim Khan and Aitbar Shah alias Mehdi Shah were still at large. A senior officer of the CTD said the suspects had fled to Afghanistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2017.