PESHAWAR: A suspect arrested by the law-enforcement agencies in connection with a recent gun battle in Hayatabad Township has disclosed that the alleged terrorists killed in the encounter belonged to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and had also planned to kill provincial ministers Shahram Tarakai and Atif Khan through a suicide bomber.

The disclosure was made by Yasir Shams in the confessional statement recorded with senior civil judge (judicial) Nasrullah Khan on May 4.

The suspect claimed that the alleged terrorists, including Tariq, Murad, Amjad, Irfan, Saeed and Feroze Shah, were known to him and were also involved in the attempt on the life of Peshawar High Court judge Ayub Khan, who was critically injured in an attack in Hayatabad Township on Feb 28.

Suspect also tells court about botched plan to kill ministers Tarakai, Atif

In the confessional statement, the suspect didn’t say that he was part of the TTP but insisted that he was aware of the activities of terrorists.

The alleged terrorists, including Murad, Tariq, Amjad and Feroze Shah, along with an Afghan citizen,

Imran Mohmand, were killed in the encounter, which began on the night of Apr 15 and ended the next day leaving a police officer and an army man martyred.

Suspect Saeed, who was reportedly arrested after the encounter injured, is in the police’s custody.

The suspect, a computer operator at a local company, claimed that he was present in a gathering a day before attack on Justice Ayub when Tariq, Amjad, Feroze Shah, Irfan and Saeed had finalised the assassination plan.

He added that Saeed had been working on that plan for many months.

The suspect gave an interesting motive behind the attack on Justice Ayub claiming that the people wanted to kill the judge for acquitting Dr Shakil Afridi, who later went to the US, though the agency surgeon has never been acquitted and he continues to be behind bars.

The suspect said Tariq, Murad and Feroze Shah rode a motorcycle carrying an automatic gun and pistols, whereas he (Yasir Shams) was in a car with the accused Irfan waiting at a distance from the place of attack.

He claimed that after firing at the vehicle of Justice Ayub, the three attackers approached them and Murad and Feroze Shah also boarded the car.

In the confessional statement, the suspect gave another interesting account of the botched attempt to kill Shahram Tarakai and Atif Khan.

“An event was organised by the ISF (Insaf Students Federation) of the PTI in Baghe Naran, where the PTI’s key leaders were invited. Amjad and Tariq had prepared an Afghan boy as a suicide bomber to target the event,” he said.

The suspect said an explosive-laden motorcycle was to be used by the suicide bomber for the terrorist activity but he met an accident on his way and thus, failing to reach the target.

“I and Saeed were walking around when we saw the suicide bomber with the motorcycle,” he said, adding that the bomber told them that he got scared after the motorcycle hit a car.

“Those riding that car slapped the bomber after which he started pushing the motorcycle instead of riding it and approaching the target,” he said.

The suspect said the alleged terrorists went to the Hayatabad Phase 7 house, which was destroyed by security forces after the encounter.

He said after reaching the house, the terrorists abused each other.

The suspect said he repented his unlawful activities and sought forgiveness.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2019