MANSEHRA: The counter-terrorism department of police in Hazara division claimed on Wednesday to have arrested the mastermind of the terrorist attack on American charity World Vision on Oct 8, 2010.

Qari Rasheed is said to have planned and carried out the attack on the office of World Vision in Dugai area of Oghi which had left eight of the charity’s staffers dead. After the attack the office was set on fire.

Sources said that Qari Rasheed was arrested in Darband area of Mansehra district and shifted to an unspecified location for interrogation. He was wanted to police in the case of the attack on the charity’s office.

The sources said Qari Rasheed, who is said to be a member of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, was allegedly involved also on the attack on British charity Plan International in Mansehra.

Muideen, another accused in the cases of attacks on World Vision and Plan International, was still at large.

Arshad alias Taliban, who was said to be the mastermind of the attack on Plan International, was killed two years ago in suspicious circumstances in Badra area of Mansehra.

After the 2010 deadly attack, World Vision had suspended its activities in Pakistan and permanently closed its operation in Mansehra district.

Published in Dawn, October 8th , 2015

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