Tarakai was the target of slain terrorists: CCPO

Qazi Jamil says suicide bomber had come from Afghanistan

PESHAWAR: Militants killed in the April 9 Hayatabad Operation were planning a hit on Senior Provincial Minister Shahram Tarakai, according to audio recording of communication retrieved by intelligence agencies.

CCPO Qazi Jamilur Rehman said on Monday that the suicide bomber Imran Afghani had come to Pakistan on a six month visa to carry out an attack on white SUV of the senior minister. They had prepared an explosive laden motorbike for the purpose, he said.

Addressing a press conference to share the findings of investigation following Hayatabad Operation, he said law enforcement agencies had found passport and visa information of Imran.

The suicide bomber was hiding in the Hayatabad Phse VII house, which they had rented out on fake ID. The terrorists had set up booby-traps in the house where over 60kgs of explosive material was kept. The house blew up during attempt the defuse the explosives, the CCPO told the media.

Terrorists who were killed in an operation at Phase VII of Hayatabad Township were running a full fledge network and engaged in planning for future activities of subversion, he said.

The slain suspects were involved in a number of terror attacks including attack on Peshawar High Court (PHC) Justice Muhammad Ayub Khan Marwat, CCPO Jamilur Rehman said flanked by officials of Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).

He also shared with journalists some telephonic transcripts retrieved from the mobile phones of killed terrorists which indicated that they were planning for more terrorist attacks and searching for targets.

In one communication, the terrorists seemed to be on reconnaissance of PTI Youth Convention in Hayatabad attended by the provincial ministers.

The terrorists group, comprised of five members, was headed by Amjad Ali alias Ajmal. Another member identified as Imran Afghani alias Qari was a suicide bomber while remaining were Tariq Usman alias Haji, Murad Khan Zahoor, Feroz Shah alias Gulab Shah and Saeed Babu. The last terrorist, Saeed alias Babu was arrested alive in injured condition and was getting treatment, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2019.