PESHAWAR: An alleged mastermind of Peshawar imambargah attack has been arrested. According to Anti Terrorism Department spokesperson, suspected terrorist Fazal was arrested on a tip-off from the intelligence agencies on Friday.
On February 13, at least 22 people were killed and another 50 were injured during a gun and bomb attack at Imamia Masjid in Phase-5 locality of Hayatabad area in Peshawar. The style of the mosque attack was similar to that of the school attack, when gunmen arrived in a car, set it on fire, and broke into the building using a back entrance. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had claimed responsibility of the incident. The suspect has also confessed to involvement in twelve suicide attacks between 2008 and 2014. The arrest came as the authorities try to adopt new measures to tackle militants following the school massacre, in which 134 children were among the dead.
The government has pledged to crack down on all militant groups, and has reintroduced the death penalty, set up military courts to speed convictions and widened its offensive in northwestern areas on the Afghan border where militants find refuge.
INP