Security forces on Monday killed the mastermind of the Quetta Civil Hospital bombing along with four other high-profile militants during an operation in Balochistan's Pishin district, said Balochistan's Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti.
"Jehangir Badini, mastermind behind the attack on Quetta's Civil Hospital was killed during the operation," said Bugti.
Bugti was talking to the media at a press conference in Quetta.
The militants were involved in a series of terrorist acts, including the attack at Hazara women and the murder of Barrister Amanullah Achakzai, the principal of University of Balochistan's law college.
"So far three of the five terrorists have been identified," the home minister said.
Balochistan Police Chief Ahsan Mehboob and other high-ups also flanked him during the press conference.
Security forces also claimed to have recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition from the possession of the militants.
“Security forces recovered 30 to 40 kilogrammes of explosives, four suicide jackets and other weapons," said Bugti.
One suspect was detained during the operation and was being interrogated by security forces.
The suicide bomber, who exploded himself in the hospital in Quetta on Aug 8, was also identified with the help of DNA tests.
His name was Ahmed Ali and he was a resident of Quetta, Bugti added.
Ali had targeted the emergency services ward at Quetta’s Civil Hospital, killing at least 70 people and leaving scores injured.
Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) splinter group, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), had claimed responsibility for the bombing, which occurred at the gates of the building housing the emergency ward.
The bomber struck as more than 100 mourners, mostly lawyers and journalists, crowded into the emergency department to accompany the body of Advocate Bilal Anwar Kasi.
