Police say mastermind of attack on Amir Muqam arrested

BISHAM: The police on Monday claimed to have arrested the mastermind of the 2012 roadside blast targeting Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Amir Muqam.

Speaking at a press conference here, District Police Officer of Shangla, Rahatullah Khan said the arrested militant, Saleh Mohammad, belonging to Jalalabad city in eastern Afghanistan was apprehended in Jatkol area in the district. He said the accused had entered Shangla to organize acts of subversion. He said Saleh Mohammad was aligned with the Afghan Taliban.  

The official said the accused was also wanted by the police in connection with the remote-controlled blast in which Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Khan Bahadur was killed along with seven other people in Puran tehsil in Shangla in 2013.

Rahatullah Khan said Saleh Mohammad had confessed during investigation that he had killed a policeman in Puran a day before the attack on DSP Khan Bahadur.He said the accused had planned to blow up a police checkpost in Jatkol. He added that hand-grenades, ball bearings, remote control device and a pistol were recovered from the accused.