LAHORE – In an unusual and major breakthrough, the Punjab police on Wednesday shoot down the most wanted militant, said to be the head of Tehrik-e-Taliban South Punjab or Punjabi Taliban, an off-shoot of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), during an operation in the suburb of Multan.
Police claimed that the alleged terrorist was also involved in the gun and bomb attack on Sri Lankan Cricket team in Lahore. A police spokesperson confirmed that Abdul Ghaffar, who belonged to Qari Mati-ur-Rehman and Aslam Yasin groups of TTP, was gunned down during a successful police operation. According to officials, the police have launched “ruthless campaign” against the terrorists on the special instructions of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Muhammad Habib-ur-Rehman.
Perhaps, it was for the first time that the police killed a terrorist since the militants launched gun attacks in Lahore and Gujrat to target security personnel and policemen at the pickets. However, the police action raises a big question whether the largest law enforcement agency has joined the war against the Taliban in the South Punjab?
It will not be out of context to mention here that the Punjab government in particular and the provincial police in general are accused of not taking stringent action against the militants and terrorists in the biggest province.
The Central Police Office here on Wednesday night released a statement of the City Police Officer (CPO) Multan Aamir Zulifqar Khan and termed the operation an extraordinary achievement.
While sharing details about the alleged terrorist, who was killed during an armed encounter with the police, Aamir Zulifqar said that Ghaffar alias Ghaffari alias Moulvi Saif Ullah, son of Ghulam Hussain, was a resident of Tounsa Sharif, District DG Khan and was “head of Tehrik-e-Taliban South Punjab.” The CPO Multan further said that the terrorist had close links with Imran and Arshad Punjabi, Taliban commanders in the North Waziristan.
Zulifqar also said that the terrorist was wanted to the police in a bank robbery, which took place in Tounsa Sharif and in another case of keeping explosive material. The police had registered cases (FIR No 244/11 dated 14-05-2011) under section (13/20/65, 7-ATA, 302/397/148/149) against him in Tounsa Sharif police station. He was also wanted to the police in another robbery, which took place at Habib Bank Limited in Sheetal Mari area of Multan some days ago. Two security guards were killed in that bank robbery. The police had registered a case (FIR No 356/12 dated 11-07-2012) against him in Sheetal Mari Police station under section 302/392. According to the CPO, Ghaffar was also involved in the gun and bomb attack on Sri Lankan Team in Lahore.
In an official handout issued from the provincial police headquarters, the police claimed to have successfully thwarted a possible terror attempt by shooting down the militant of TTP during an armed encounter in Multan. The police team headed by SSP (Operations) Multan, Gohar Nafees, launched the operation and saved Multan City from a major terror attack.
The IGP has congratulated the SSP and his team for carrying out the successful operation.
The Multan police set up a picket near River Chenab after receiving secret information that a few terrorists, travelling in a bus, were arriving in Multan.
The police team signalled the bus driver to stop near the Chenab River but he accelerated and tried to flee. Later, a CIA team intercepted the same bus at a picket set up near Ghazi Ghaat and began physical search of the passengers. In the meantime, a terrorist Abdul Ghaffar threw a hand grenade after removing its pin in the bus to target the passengers. The police managed to capture the terrorist but he opened fire on the police as he was off-loaded from the bus.
The police also retaliated. As a result, the terrorist was killed during the encounter. The police also recovered explosives and a bag from his possession. The explosive material was handed over to Bomb Disposal Squad.