PESHAWAR: The Peshawar police have suspected that the militant Islamic State group-linked elements are behind the Thursday night attack on clerics in the city, which left two people dead.

A police source told Dawn that the attack took place in Qazi Kilay area of the capital city at around 11pm where two gunmen entered a mosque, opened fire on the clerics eating dinner in a room, and fled.

He said the firing killed Abdul Qayyum and Asad and injured Mufti Nadeem, Yasin, Sohail and Imdadullah.

Another source claimed that the attack targeting Mufti Nadeem possibly involved two terrorists, who came to the mosque by motorcycle.

He said one stayed outside the mosque, while the other entered the premises and carried out the attack using a 9mm pistol.

The source said it appeared that the Islamic State-linked elements were behind the attack as its target, cleric Mufti Nadeem, was outspoken in his criticism of them.

He said the cleric had long been receiving threats from militants over Afghan telephone numbers and had formally informed the police about them before getting the permission to carry gun for own security.

He said the cleric was accompanied by three guards when he came to the mosque to deliver Friday sermon.

The source said the counter-terrorism department has registered FIR before beginning investigation.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2017