QUETTA: Security agencies and police have arrested two high-profile 'target killers' involved in the murder of two journalists and an accountant in Quetta along with other terrorist activities.
Security sources say the accused belonged to a banned militant outfit.
Balochistan Home Minister Mir Safaraz Bugti during a press conference at the Home Ministry on Tuesday said security agencies had arrested the murderers of slain journalists Irshad Mastoi and Abdul Rasool, and accountant Muhammad Younas.
Home Secretary Balochistan Akbar Hussain Durrani was also present on the occasion.
Bugti said armed men had stormed inside the office of news agency Online and killed Bureau Chief Irshad Mastoi, reporter Abdul Rasool and part-time worker Muhammad Younas on August 28, 2014.
Also read: Journalists – the forgotten terror victims
He said that the arrested target killers had confessed to the killing of journalists in Quetta. "The target killers are being interrogated," he added.
The Home Minister said the accused arrested by security agencies were also involved in 30 bomb explosions and a series of targeted killings in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan.
The arrested men also confessed to have killed Balochistan National Party (Mengal) Central Secretary General Habib Jalib Baloch.
The Home Minister revealed that the arrested 'target killers' were also planning to target Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Senator Hafiz Hamdullah and Vice Chairman for Baloch Missing Persons Mama Qadeer.
"A major conspiracy has been foiled," he said, referring to the high profile target killers' arrests.
Also read: Two journalists shot dead in Quetta
Suspected militants killed in Gwadar
Three suspected militants were killed and one arrested during an exchange of fire with security forces in Balochistan's Gwadar district early on Tuesday morning.
Master Majeed, Siobhan and Jamal were killed, while Asghar Ali was arrested during an operation in the Kalaunch area of Pasni tehsil, Levis sources told DawnNews.
Levies sources told DawnNews that the operations were conducted at two locations. It is yet to be confirmed whether the militants were involved in the attack at Jiwani Airport, Levies sources said.
