Mastermind of bomb attack on SHC judge arrested: police

Published July 17, 2013
This picture shows paramilitary soldiers and police officers at the site of a bomb attack. The target was SHC judge Justice Maqbool Baqar.—File Photo.
This picture shows paramilitary soldiers and police officers at the site of a bomb attack. The target was SHC judge Justice Maqbool Baqar.—File Photo.
A view of the site of attack on the convoy of Sindh High Court Justice Baqar Maqbool at Burns road in Karachi.—File Photo
A view of the site of attack on the convoy of Sindh High Court Justice Baqar Maqbool at Burns road in Karachi.—File Photo
Sindh High Court judge Justice Maqbool Baqar.
Sindh High Court judge Justice Maqbool Baqar.

KARACHI: Police in Karachi say they have arrested the mastermind behind a deadly bombing which killed nine people and injured senior Sindh High Court (SHC) judge Justice Maqbool Baqar.

In an operation carried out early Wednesday in Karachi's Surjani Town area, police arrested Bashir Leghari, suspected of being the mastermind of the attack on the judge's convoy last month, along with two of his accomplices, said DIG South Dr Ameer Sheikh.

The operation was carried out with the help of of an intelligence agency, said the senior police official.

Leghari was injured in the exchange of fire during the operation, while a policeman was also wounded, he said.

The suspect is said to belong to the 'Asif chotu group' of the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, a banned militant outfit involved in several sectarian killings.

On June 26, a powerful bomb explosion had targeted Justice Baqar's convoy as it was passing through the busy Burnes Road area. The senior judge was seriously injured, but his driver and eight security personnel escorting him suffered fatal wounds.

The bomb was reported to have been planted in a parked motorcycle and detonated by a remote control on the busy road in a high security zone of the city, yards from the Sindh High Court building and close to the Sindh Assembly, the Sindh Secretariat, and the headquarters of the provincial government.

Justice Baqar, a member of the Shia community, was said to be on the hit-list of religious militants, including the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

A spokesman for Tehreek-i-Taliban had claimed responsibility for the attack on the senior judge, claiming he was targeted due to his “anti-Taliban and anti-Mujahideen decisions”.

The jurist had served as the administrative judge of the anti-terrorism courts in Karachi and initially heard terrorism cases in this capacity.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...