PESHAWAR: Five terrorists were killed in exchange of fire with Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of police in Shamshatoo area on the border between Peshawar and Nowshera districts on Thursday night.

A statement issued by CTD said that the department received information about presence of militants in the compound of Kabul English Language Centre near Shamshatoo Camp for Afghan refugees.

It read that an operation was carried out and following intense exchange of fire, the CTD team gunned down five terrorists belonging to the banned ISKP. It said that the terrorists present in the compound had been planning major activities, including bomb blasts targeting sensitive institutions, imambargahs and churches.

“Among the killed terrorists was the key commander of the banned organisation, Imran alias Abdullah alias Bilal alias Abu Bakar,” the statement said. It added that Imran alias Abu Bakar was a proclaimed offender wanted by CTD as he was involved in a total of 20 cases of bomb blasts, targeted killings of police personnel and political leaders, and other acts of terrorism in Islamabad and other parts of the country.

CTD says Imran alias Bilal was wanted in 20 cases of terrorism

It said that he was also involved in the killing of Maulana Khanzeb, a former ANP candidate for provincial assembly polls, and former senator Hidayatullah. It said that he was directly involved in the murder of PTI leader Rehanzeb.

“He was a proclaimed offender wanted by CTD Islamabad in Tarlai Imambargah suicide attack case. He was also involved and wanted in the suicide attack on the imambargah in Tarlai, Islamabad, on 6 February 2026. He had arranged suicide jacket for the Tarlai Imambargah attack from Bajaur and transported the suicide bomber from Nowshera to Tarlai,” the statement read.

It said that he was also involved in the 2023 suicide attack on JUI-F workers convention in Bajaur. A reward of Rs12 million had been announced for information leading to his arrest or whereabouts.

The statement said that one of the killed terrorists was identified as Shahidullah, a resident of Mohmand, while identification of the others was under way. Shahidullah conducted the reconnaissance and identified the target imambargah for the Tarlai suicide attack, it added.

The statement said that the raiding team recovered a small machinegun, four pistols, two hand grenades, five magazines, an improvised explosive device (IED) and a large quantity of ammunition from killed terrorists. Search and clearance operation was ongoing in the area, it added.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2026