Bacha Khan University attack: Pak makes breakthrough in identifying terrorists

Karachi: Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said on Wednesday said that breakthroughs had been achieved in identifying the terrorists who attacked the Bacha Khan University in Charsadda today.

According to the Dawn, the ISPR chief said that the phone calls made by the terrorists had been traced and analyzed and that two cell phones had also been recovered.

“When army reached the premises, all four attackers were alive. They were contained in the hostel and were eventually eliminated on the roof and the stairs. They had a lot of ammo, including grenades. Their call logs were analysed and an intelligence picture was established, with most data having been collected,” Lt Gen Bajwa said.

He added that the forensics and fingerprints of the attackers had been shared with the National Database Registration Authority.

“We have gathered almost all relevant data on who they (attackers) were, from where they came and who supported them. We cleared the sanctuaries of terrorists after which certain people crossed the border towards Afghanistan and are operating from there. That aspect is also under investigation,” the ISPR chief said.

Asserting that the terrorists were getting instructions from the outside to carry attacks in the nation, he said the terrorists were targeting symbols of progress.

The ISPR chief said, “As long as the facilitators and financiers of terrorists are present, they can carry out an attack at any place and time. What matters is how we respond to this as a nation.”

Earlier, unidentified gunmen entered Bacha Khan University in Khyber Pakhtunkha’s Charsadda town and opened fire on students and faculty members as they gathered to commemorate the death anniversary of activist Bacha Khan.

The mastermind of the Army Public School Peshawar attack, Umar Mansoor, of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group claimed the attack through a post on his Facebook page, adding that four attackers were sent to the university.

However, a spokesperson from the TTP, Mohammad Khorasani, issued a conflicting statement later condemning the attack and warned that those “using the naming of TTP will be brought to justice”. (ANI)