Daily Times

RAWALPINDI – Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa on Saturday said that five of the terrorists and their facilitators involved in Bacha Khan University assault have been arrested and identified.

At least 22 people, including two faculty members were killed as terrorists opened fire at students in educational institution on January 20.

“These five terrorists have been identified as Riaz, Noorullah, Adil, Zia and Ibrahim,” ISPR director general said during a media briefing. “While Omar Mansoor commanded the terrorists from Afghanistan during the attack, Adil, who had earlier worked as a mason in the university, provided information to the attackers,” he said.

“Adil – who worked in university – made a map of the campus which he could explain to the rest of his militant companions,” Bajwa said, adding that “Adil is also the one who helped the attackers figure out their way into the university.”

He said that the militants entered Pakhtunkhwa’s Mardan district through Torkham border with Afghanistan and stayed in two houses there. “They were provided with arms and ammunition from Darra Adam Khel area,” he said.

Ameen Rehman has also been identified as one of the terrorists and his data confirmed by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), DG ISPR said.

He said that these facilitators helped the terrorists embark a rickshaw and travel to nearby Imbrahimzai University, where they dismounted, from here they traveled to Bacha Khan University.

He said that the terrorists completed their preparations near Torham checkpost area in Afghanistan and entered into Mardan using public transport.

He also presented a map of Mardan and Charsadda showing the movement of the attackers. “After entering Mardan, these terrorists were received by Adil and Riaz,” he revealed, showing the location of the two terrorists’ hideouts on the Mardan-Charsadda road, where they stayed.

“We have come to the conclusion that terrorism cannot be fought while there are accomplices and facilitators,” DG ISPR said, adding that, “terrorism is a problem being faced by the whole world, but all societies play their own role.”

He also requested society to be aware of their surroundings. “All institutions and societies must play their role.”

Responding to a question, he said that Afghan government was not blamed for the attack. “We only said that the attacked was planned and handled from Afghan soil,” he said.

He reiterated that phone calls were made from Afghanistan to carry out the attack, adding that investigation was still underway to confirm financial resources of terrorists.

He said that border management was an issue, which brought up in every meeting with Afghan leadership. “We have to work on it. Even developed countries like the US have these challenges” he said. “Our border management will improve with time, we are working on it. We are also talking to people in tribal agencies and asking them to remain vigilant,” he said.

The January 20 attack was claimed by mastermind of the APS Peshawar attack – Umar Mansoor – of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Geedar group.

Earlier, Chief or Army Staff General Raheel Sharif chaired a special security meeting at the Corps Headquarters, Peshawar, according to a statement issued by military’s media wing ISPR.

The meeting reviewed ongoing operations in Khyber Pahkhtunkhwa and in the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas as well as the Intelligence-based Operations, Pak-Afghan border management and the progress into the investigations regarding attack on the Bacha Khan University.