Killer of ISI officials eliminated in Kurram tribal district

Umar Niazi was wanted in martyrdom of two ISI officers

The law enforcement agencies have carried out an intelligence based operation in Kurram Agency, tracking down and eliminating a terrorist wanted in the martyrdom of a decorated senior intelligence officer and his comrade.

Two Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officials — Director Naveed Sadiq Sial and Inspector Nasir Abbas — were martyred in a gun attack on Jan 3 at a roadside restaurant in Pirowal area of Khanewal.

Also read: Two intelligence officers shot dead in Khanewal

A little-known terrorist group calling itself Lashkar-e-Khorasan had immediately claimed responsibility, but the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) later claimed that the deadly attack was carried out by its “secret squad”.

Terrorist Umar Niazi, who earlier had tea with the two officials at the restaurant before he shot them, was believed to be an “intelligence source” in the al Qaeda terrorist group and a suspected double agent.

He had escaped the scene of the crime following the gun attack.

But the country's intelligence agencies utilised the latest counter-terrorism technology day and night to track the wanted terrorist, sources said, nabbing and eliminating him before his possible departure to Afghanistan.

Also read: ISI’s fallen official ‘singlehandedly defeated Da’ish in Punjab’

The sources said Niazi was detained by the LEAs in an injured condition and was under treatment when he died.

Separately, at least two suicide bombers blew themselves up during an exchange of fire with the police in the Hund area – a picnic point adjacent to the Indus River – of the Swabi district, the district police spokesperson said.

“The terrorists started firing at the police team when they approached them. The police team retaliated and trapped them. However, both the terrorists blew themselves up after they found no way to escape,” the spokesperson added. A policeman sustained bullet wounds in exchange of fire, he said.