Daily Times

QUETTA: Security officials arrested at least 27 suspects, including four facilitators of the Quetta hospital attack, in a combing operation in Mastung.

According to unnamed security sources, a huge cache of explosives was seized during the combing operation, according to unnamed security sources. The combing operation was carried out in the Kanak area of Mastung, some 25km away from Quetta.

On the other hand, an anti-terrorism court handed down the death penalty and life imprisonment to 15 men accused of involvement in the killing of a Levies official and an assassination bid on the life of District Police Officer (DPO) Kharan Anwar Badini.

ATC Judge Justice Jaffar Mengal also fined each accused Rs 200,000 besides awarding death sentences and life imprisonments. The accused were involved in the killing of Balochistan Levies official Umar Shah and attacking DPO Kharan’s police mobile van. DPO Kharan and his driver were injured in the attack.

The culprits were charged with terrorism, murder, illegal possession of arms and ammunition, possession of explosives and an assassination attempt.

The main accused in the case, Mullah Ashraf, was given a quadruple death sentence while 14 of his accomplices were awarded death sentences three times.