The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police has claimed that two suspected members of the militant group (Daesh) allegedly linked to the 2013 abduction of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's son, Ali Haider Gilani, were killed in a pre-dawn raid on a militant hideout in Faisalabad on Tuesday. According to CTD spokesman, credible source information was received that some terrorists were hiding in Faisalabad in a rented house. "Acting on the information, an Intelligence-Based Operation (IBO) by the CTD and other security agencies was carried out at midnight," he added.
He said the alleged terrorists, identified as Adeel Hafeez and Usman Haroon were warned to surrender but they started indiscriminate firing on LEAs personnel when they raided the hideout. Consequently, a shootout was ensued. When the firing stopped, both the terrorists were found dead. The deceased were allegedly associated with Daesh, he added.
"According to evidences taken from the crime scene, it transpired that they had planned to attack personnel of a sensitive agency in Faisalabad. This network of terrorists was also found involved in several high-profile terrorist activities including the killing of officials of an intelligence agency in Multan namely Umar Mubeen and Yasir Ali, kidnapping of son-in-law of Gen Tariq Majeed, a US National Warren Weinstein, Ali Haider Gillani, son of former PM Yousaf Raza Gillani and Brigadier Tahir," the spokesman claimed.
He added that Hafeez and Haroon were also responsible for the killing of two police officers in D Ground Faisalabad in an attempt to kidnap a senior officer of the law enforcement agencies. During the raid, the security forces seized two suicide jackets, one pistol, two hand grenades and many live rounds pistol, added the official.
In the past, he added, the security forces had also foiled multiple terror plots prepared by the trio.