LAHORE: Officials of the Punjab Police’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed to have killed the new leader of the proscribed outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and three other militants in an operation in Sheikhupura.
The killings came 18 months after police gunned down longtime notorious Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) leader Malik Ishaq in a separate encounter.
Among the four militants killed on Tuesday night was Asif Chotoo, also known by the name Rizwan, who was named LeJ’s Chief following Malik Ishaq’s death, the CTD said. “He was now heading Lashkar-e-Jhangvi,” read a statement.
LeJ, one of a myriad of religious militant outfits operating in the country, has claimed responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of civilians, mostly minority Shias.
The four suspects who were killed in a shootout in Sheikhupura by the CTD, acting on a tip, that the group was planning an attack in the provincial capital.
“Big chapters of terrorism, target killings have been closed today,” the statement added. “These terrorists were merciless killing machines.”
