PESHAWAR, Jan 26: A team of Special Investigation Group (SIG) personnel has identified the killer of religious leader Syed Agha Ziauddin Rizvi in Gilgit as Mukhtiar Ahmad, an activist of the proscribed outfit Lashkar-i-Jhangvi.

A well-placed official source told Dawn that the assailant, who was also killed belonged to the village of Zareef Korona (Michni), in the outskirts of Peshawar. It is learnt that the team of the SIG, a counter-terrorism group of the FIA which investigated the case, visited the village and met members of his family including his father.

A number of arrests have been made over the last two days following the identification of the assailant, the source said. The names of the arrested persons have not been announced.

Agha Ziauddin was attacked on Jan 8 when he was in his car. He suffered serious injuries and died on Jan 13. During the attack, his two bodyguards and an attacker were killed. The incident sparked violence resulting in death of 15 people.

It is learnt that two days ago the investigation team including an assistant director of the SIG, Sardar Abdul Azeem, inspector, Habibullah Khan, DSP Crimes Branch (Gilgit) Syed Nazimuddin and a sub-inspector of Gilgit police station reached Peshawar.

Residents of Zareef Korona said that a picture of the assailant was shown to Naqeeb Ahmad, who identified his son and also informed the team that he was linked to the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi.

"The investigation team has taken into custody personal diary and the telephone index of the attacker," informed a family member. Some family members of the attacker have left for Gilgit to get his body.