K & P

Botched attempt?: Police says attacker was key LeJ commander

Qari Zahir was wanted in target killings, several sectarian attacks.

Zulfiqar Ali March 11, 2013

According to the police, Zahir tried to attack their mobile van which was patrolling the area but was unsuccessful in his attempt. PHOTO: FILE

DERA ISMAIL KHAN:

The man who allegedly killed himself when a grenade exploded in his hand during Saturday’s failed attack on Daraban police, Dera Ismail Khan, was identified as Qari Zahir of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ).

An official of the Daraban police told The Express Tribune that Zahir was wanted to the Punjab and DI Khan police for alleged involvement in several cases of terrorism. “We have lodged an FIR against him for attempted murder, the use of criminal force against public servants and carrying explosives” he said.

Qari Zahir, also known as Masoom Shah, had tried crossing the Daraban checkpoint, near the semi-autonomous region of Darazinda, Frontier Region (FR) DI Khan. According to the police, Zahir tried to attack their mobile van which was patrolling the area but was unsuccessful in his attempt.

Another police official claimed that the grenade exploded in the hands of the accused when he attempted to hurl it the second time, killing him instantly. The police patrolling the area remained unharmed.

A 30-bore pistol, three magazines, a Russian-made hand grenade, 40 bullets and an identity card were recovered from him by the police.

According to Daraban police, the ID card on Zahir did not belong to him. “The CNIC recovered from him identified him as Amanullah, a resident of Tariqabad DI Khan, but later the ID was found to be fake,” he said, adding that Zahir belongs to the Imran Gandapur Group of the LeJ, which has planned several sectarian attacks in and out of the district.

After the incident on Saturday, the body of Qari Zahir was taken to the District Headquarter Hospital. Further details are expected to emerge after police investigations, said the official.

Qari Zahir was wanted by the DI Khan police in over a dozen targeted and sectarian killings, including a suicide attack on the DPO’s office on January 14, 2012 in which three people were killed.

A suicide attack attributed to the same group in March 2012 left three police officials dead, while DSP Abdul Ghafur was injured.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2013.