LAHORE The Crimes Investigation Department on Tuesday claimed Tuesday to have arrested five people involved in a suicide attack on PML-N MNA Rashid Akbar Niwani in Bhakkar on Aug 6.

At least 26 people were killed and several injured in the attack, including the MNA. According to police, suspect Waqas Hussain, and his accomplices Dr Nazar Hussain, Arif Khan, Muhammad Amjad and Saeed Amjad Abbas hired a suicide bomber and explosives expert from Wana to kill Ejaz Hussain, with whom he allegedly had a monetary dispute.

According to a police handout, Waqas Hussain and Ejaz Hussain, both residents of Bhakkar district, were fast friends. Waqas started a used-car business after borrowing Rs2.1 million from Ejaz, but could not establish himself and began to suffer losses. He handed over seven vehicles to Ejaz at different times to return the borrowed money, but Ejaz demanded another Rs5.4 million.

A dispute developed and both had cases registered against each other.

Ejaz finally took the dispute to Niwani and asked him to settle it. Niwani called both parties to his outhouse in the presence of local notables, listened to them and announced another sitting for Aug 6.

Waqas and his father Nazar Hussain went to their relative Arif Khan in Dera Ismail Khan and informed him about the situation. They decided to kill Ejaz in a suicide attack and Arif asked them to arrange money for the purpose.

Waqas, Nazar and Arif went to Tank where they met Jaan Muhammad Wazeer, a resident of Wana, and agreed to pay him Rs1.2 million for the purpose. A day before the suicide attack on Aug 6, Jaan handed over the suicide bomber and an explosives expert to Arif. The bomber and explosives expert were later handed over to Waqas at Adda Dajal in Bhakkar district.

On the day of incident, Waqas confirmed through dispenser Amjad Abbas Shah that Ejaz was present at Niwani's house and took the suicide bomber there. The bomber blew himself up near Ejaz, killing him and 25 others.