News Desk
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said on Friday that key terrorist commander Zahid Gul, described as the mastermind of the suicide attack on the Kohat Police Lines, was killed during a joint intelligence-based operation conducted by the CTD and security forces in FR area of Lakki Marwat.
According to the CTD spokesman, the slain terrorist was affiliated with the Khwarij Gul Bahadur group and was wanted by security agencies in connection with several serious terrorist incidents.
A CTD spokesperson said Zahid Gul had personally guided a suicide vehicle loaded with explosives during the attack on the Kohat Police Lines. He was also involved in transporting several suicide attackers to Kohat.
According to the CTD, the slain terrorist was also present at the Bli Tang bank robbery, during which Rs60 million was looted. The stolen money was distributed among terrorist formations in Bannu, including those operating in the Bakakhel and Jani Khel areas.
Officials said that around two months ago, Zahid Gul had also brought a suicide attacker for an attack on the new Kohat Police Lines; however, the attack was foiled. The CTD said Zahid Gul’s planned future targets included police training school in Kohat.
Meanwhile, a police constable was martyred when terrorists attacked the Spina Mela police checkpost in Hassan Khel, Peshawar, last night, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mian Saeed Ahmad said on Friday.
According to the CCPO, police personnel on duty responded with heavy retaliatory fire, confronting the attackers with courage and determination and forcing them to retreat and flee.
Police said reports that several terrorists were injured during the exchange of fire were being verified. A search operation was launched in the area to trace the fleeing attackers.
Terror bid foiled
Moreover, police foiled a major terror bid in Peshawar’s densely populated Yakatoot area by defusing an 11-kilogramme pressure-cooker bomb in a timely operation, averting a potential tragedy.
The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) swung into action after receiving information about the presence of a suspected explosive device in the locality and successfully neutralised the bomb. SP City Shahid Adnan and Yakatoot Station House Officer Riaz Afridi supervised the operation, in which the specialised squad safely defused the device.
The timely intervention prevented the suspected bomb from posing a further threat to residents of the densely populated area.