LAHORE: Gunman Faizan Butt, also known as Khorasani, who was involved in the target killing of two police officials in Lahore, was shot dead along with his three accomplices in an ‘encounter’ with a special police team from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab in Karol jungles, Lahore, in the early hours of Sunday.

Faizan was arrested by law enforcement agencies from Defence Housing Authority on May 3. He was on a 14-day physical remand in the custody of the CTD.

He stood accused of killing two police officials and injuring a third in targeted attacks in Lahore.

Police declared him an active member of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which had assigned him the task of killing six police personnel in Lahore, offering rewards ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs600,000 for each target accomplished.

A spokesperson for the CTD said that Faizan was taken to Karol Jungle for the recovery of weapons, and upon his guidance, the CTD team retrieved two pistols and a hand grenade from the jungle.

As the team was leaving the location, five to six gunmen, Faizan’s accomplices, attacked the police to secure his release. A firefight ensued, resulting in the death of four gunmen, including Faizan, by the gunfire from their own accomplices.

However, two other gunmen fled under the cover of darkness, the CTD said. The police recovered two Kalashnikovs and a 30-bore pistol from the scene.

The identification process for the three other deceased gunmen is ongoing. A search operation to arrest the fleeing terrorists has been initiated in the vicinity of Karol Jungle, the spokesperson confirmed.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2024