Advertisement

Police kill Pakistan anti-Shiite leader

AAP

AAP

Pakistani police have killed the leader of the banned sectarian militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, his two sons and 11 others during a shootout that ensued after an attempted prison break.

Malik Ishaq was on a US list of global terrorists, and the group he founded has claimed responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of civilians, most of them minority Shiite Muslims.

On Tuesday (local time), police took Ishaq and his sons to an area near the provincial town of Muzaffargarh to identify men they had detained on suspicion of being members of Ishaq’s group.

Gaddafi’s son sentenced to death
• Lord Sewel resigns after drug scandal

As the police convoy returned in the early hours of Wednesday, a group of men on motorcycles ambushed them, freeing Ishaq and his two sons, police said.

“Twelve to 15 terrorists attacked the police party … freed the accused and fled away on motorcycles,” police spokeswoman Nabila Ghazanfar said.

Police further along the road attacked the gunmen as they were fleeing, killing Ishaq, his two sons, and 11 others.

Six police were also wounded during the attempted prison break.

Ishaq has faced several murder trials but was always acquitted after witnesses refused to testify.

He was arrested again on July 25, under a Maintenance of Public Order act, along with his two sons.

He was under investigation for the murder of dozens of people in target killings in South Punjab.

“[Ishaq’s militant group] was also in league with the Taliban and Al Qaeda groups operating in the area,” Ms Ghanzafar said.

– with agencies

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.