Khanzada attack case: Three suspected terrorists killed in Rawalpindi raid

Source says a police officer was also killed in exchange of fire with militants

RAWALPINDI: At least three terrorists allegedly involved in the attack on former Punjab Home Minister Col (retd) Shuja Khanzada were killed in a police encounter in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

Police and security forces conducted a joint raid in Chakri area on the outskirts of Rawalpindi, prompting a clash between the suspected terrorists and the security forces which resulted in the killing of three militants, including a woman. A police officer was also killed during the exchange of fire, a police source said.

Read: Four suspects linked to Khanzada attack killed in CTD raid

Further, police claimed to have rounded up another five suspects from the area who have been shifted to an undisclosed location and are being investigated.

Last month, officials of the Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested five key suspects involved in the suicide attack that killed the former Punjab home minister, a senior police official said.

Khanzada and 16 others had been killed in a suicide blast in August at his political office in Shadi Khan, near Attock. Khanzada, 71, had been holding a meeting with locals when a suicide bomber blew himself up. The home minister and several others were buried under the rubble after the blast brought down the roof of the house.

Read: High-profile assassination: Key suspect among five held in Khanzada case

Over a month after the incident, CTD with the support of intelligence agencies have arrested Qasim Muawiya, a member of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in connection of the killing. Investigators believe Muawiya was the mastermind of the attack and provided support to the suicide bombers.