Mubasher Bukhari

A well-coordinated and action of joint teams of intelligence agencies and security forces not only saved Lahore from a series of suicide attacks but also led to arrest of chief of the most feared terrorist outfit in Pakistan, Lashkar e Jhangvi and his four accomplices. The terrorists were arrested on January 28, just a couple of hours before they were to leave for carrying out suicide attacks in Shiites’ processions on Yaum e Ashur, highly informed intelligence sources revealed to SouthAsiaNet.
Police identified the chief of LJ as Muhammad Rizwan and his four accomplices as Ziaud Din, Muhammad Alam, Abdul Sattar Alias Riaz and Amjad alias Kala. According to police story, the alleged terrorists were arrested from Satu Katla on February 4 and a huge amount of weapons and explosives were recovered from their possession. Muhammad Rizwan carries one million rupees head money.
Superintendent of Police for Investigation Omar Virk says that Rizwan was involved in killings of over 100 persons in different terrorist activities. "He is founder of suicide attacks in Pakistan and he masterminded several such attacks in which dozens of people were killed," said Mr Virk.
But story of intelligence sources differs with police versions. An intelligence official told SouthAsiaNet that special informants within militant outfits tipped off about presence of Rizwan and company at Federal Colony, Lahore on January 28. Authorities formed special teams within minutes and dispatched them for a special operation, which carried out a clean operation and arrested them from their hide out.
The further revelations of intelligence are even more intriguing. "Rizwan was about to launch four suicide bombers to various directions of the city for attacks on processions of Shiites on Muharram 10 when they were caught. Several jackets for suicide attacks, huge amount of high explosive, detonators and sophisticated guns were recovered from their possession," said intelligence sources. They said that Rizwan introduced trend of suicide attacks in Pakistan, and trained dozens of the LJ activists for this purpose.
After thorough interrogation, Rizwan and other terrorists were handed over to police for registration of case against them.
The arrest of Rizwan has unearthed a new face of the LJ as nobody knew that he is present chief of the LJ. After arrest of Akram Lahori, Asif Chottu took over driving seat of the LJ but after his death in an encounter, it was a general impression that several small cells of the Lashkar were working independently without having a central command. But, Rizwan told the investigators that he is present chief of the outfit and every activist of the LJ still works under a central command.
He disclosed that he got training in Afghanistan and fought along with Taliban against the allied forces. He further disclosed that he also lived at North Waziristan where he trained and prepared several suicide bombers.
According to investigators, Rizwan masterminded suicide attacks at Imam Bargah Zainabiya, Sialkot, Hussainia Hall, Mochi Gate Lahore and Imam Bargah Ali Raza Karachi. He also masterminded firing at PARCO’s bus in Karachi, assassination of Allama Ghulam Hussain Najafi in Lahore and killings of several police officials and Shiite leaders.
An intelligence source remarked, "He is an important catch. We may term him as father of suicide attacks in Pakistan."