Caught in time: Alleged target killer arrested with multiple IDs, loaded 9mm

In another incident, BDS defused two seven-kg suicide vests buried in Wazir Colony.

PESHAWAR: An alleged target killer was arrested at Kohati Gate near All Saints Church on Sunday.

Police stopped a young man riding a new motorcycle for routine checking in the Kohati Gate area. A pat-down resulted in the recovery of a 9mm pistol, and several forms of identity (ID) cards, including press and university IDs.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a police official stated the man has been identified as Muhammad Hussain, a resident of Khar, Bajaur – a possible target killer. Hussain currently resides in Hayatabad.

“He is a young man, well-dressed and was riding a brand new Honda 125CC motorcycle which carried applied for plates,” informed the official. “This young man had a press card as well as a university card with him.” It is said the weapon recovered from him matches the type used in many other incidents.

On July 16, Sub-Inspector Gharibullah was on routine patrol in Qissa Khwani when two unidentified gunmen opened fire at him. Gharibullah later succumbed to his injuries at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH). On July 31, Intelligence Bureau inspector Mazhar Ali Shah was targeted in a similar attack at Sarki Gate; he died at LRH the next morning.

The attackers managed to escape in both incidents.

Recovering suicide jackets

Meanwhile, police found and defused two suicide jackets, weighing seven kilogrammes each in Wazir Colony, in the jurisdiction of Faqirabad police station.

Late Saturday night, locals informed police about ‘suspicious-looking people’ digging and burying something under garbage heaps. Police called the bomb disposal squad (BDS) and reached the site.

After inspecting the location, they found two suicide vests which had been buried by suspected militants. The vests were recovered and defused by the BDS.

“These are good quality suicide vests. They (militants) possibly buried the vests in fear of a search operation,” said another police official.

“This is an important discovery for police, thanks to the cooperation of locals.”

On Sunday morning, Faqirabad police launched a search operation in the area and arrested five people; four of them are said to be proclaimed offenders.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2013.