Two people allegedly associated with the Ansar-ul-Shariah Pakistan (ASP) group tied to the attack on Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Khwaja Izharul Hasan were arrested in Balochistan on Wednesday, a security official told DawnNews.

According to the official, the suspects were identified as Professor Mushtaq ─ a teacher at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS) who was arrested in Quetta ─ and Mufti Habibullah, who was arrested in Pishin district.

According to initial reports, Mushtaq allegedly ran an educational institute in Karachi, while Habibullah ran seminaries in Karachi and Hyderabad. They were allegedly involved in the brainwashing of students they came into contact with in Karachi.

They have been shifted to an undisclosed location, the official said.

The ASP claimed responsibility for an attack on Khawaja Izharul Hasan on Eidul Azha, and has also been linked to recent attacks on police officials in Karachi. Security officials save said it comprises highly-educated individuals, with at least two suspects identified as students of Karachi University and NED.