LeJ target killer arrested in Quetta

In a video, he is shown confessing to killing scores of people

QUETTA: The Counter Terrorism Department has nabbed a target killer of al Almi faction of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi after raiding a compound in Hazar Ganji on the outskirts of the provincial capital.

This was revealed by CTD DIG Aitzaz Goraya at a news conference on Wednesday.

Following a tip-off, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Office raided a compound at the Killi Shah Muhammad area of Hazar Ganji arresting a target killer of the roscribed organization named Qari Ismael on Tuesday night, Goraya said.

During the investigation Qari Ismael has confessed to his involvement in “15 major target killing attacks against security forces and the Hazara community, which left 40 people dead in the provincial capital,” DIG Goraya said and added weapons and explosives were also seized from his compound.



Qari Ismael in his confessional video said, he joined the armed group back in 2014 and commenced target killings of security personnel and Hazara community members after getting trained in Afghanistan.

He also confessed to killing four FC soldiers in double road, mounting an attack on police force deployed outside a mosque at Multani Street, target killing of four Hazara vegetable vendors at Qalandar Makan and more attacks in Quetta.

The inquiry has revealed “some students from Government Science College and members of Muslim Students Organization (MSO), student wing of a banned outfit, were also involved in facilitating and attacking security personnel and the Hazara community,” Goraya said, adding that the hunt for their arrest is underway.



Talking about training camps in Afghanistan, Goraya said, after the training he [Ismael] was introduced to the group by a friend when they were studying in a religious seminary, “our teams are raiding for the arrest of Ismael’s friend and soon he will be booked.”

“Some of his group members were killed in security raids but five of the members are still at large, they also will be behind bars in near future,” Goraya assured.

Replying to a question regarding the attacks against Christian community in Quetta, he said the terrorists attacking the community have been identified and they will be arrested soon.