New LeJ leader killed in encounter with Punjab CTD

Asif Chotoo, aka Rizwan, was named Lashkar-e-Jhangvi chief following Malik Ishaq's death

LAHORE: The counter-terrorism department (CTD) of Punjab police killed new leader of the proscribed outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), along with three more militants, in an operation, it said Wednesday.

The killings came 18 months after police gunned down longtime notorious Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) leader Malik Ishaq in a separate encounter.

Among the four militants killed on Tuesday night was Asif
Chotoo, also known by the name Rizwan, who was named LeJ chief
following Ishaq's death, the CTD said. "He was now heading Lashkar-e-Jhangvi," read a statement.



The extremist outfit LeJ, one of a myriad of religious militant outfits operating in the country, has claimed responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of civilians, mostly minority Shia Muslims.

The four suspects were killed in a shootout in Sheikhupura, about 40 kilometres northwest of Lahore, by the CTD acting on a tip that the group was planning an attack in the provincial capital.

"Big chapters of terrorism, target killings have been closed today," the statement added. "These terrorists were merciless killing machines."