The Frontier Corps (FC) in Balochistan on Friday reportedly killed the alleged facilitator of the Mastung suicide bombing in an early morning shootout in Kalat district, officials said.

The operation was carried out on an intelligence tip-off about the presence of an alleged Islamic State (IS) operative identified as Hidayat Ullah in a house in Darenjo village of Kalat district, DawnNewsTV reported.

“The Frontier Corps (FC) raided the house and killed Hidayat Ullah after a strong resistance from him,” said Kalat Deputy Commissioner Qaisar Khan.

A senior FC official claimed that Hidayat Ullah was the alleged facilitator of Hafeez Nawaz, who had reportedly carried out the suicide bombing in Mastung last week which killed at least 149 people.

Balochistan Awami Party's (BAP) central leader Siraj Raisani was also among the dead when the bomber blew himself up during a corner meeting in Daringarh area of Mastung district. The Islamic State group had claimed responsibility for the attack.

Earlier on Thursday, Deputy Inspector General Aitzaz Ahmed Goraya of the Balochistan police’s counterterrorism department told a press conference that the suicide bomber had been identified as Hafeez Nawaz, son of Muhammad Nawaz.

DIG Goraya said that Hafeez originally belonged to Abbottabad but he had been living in a village of Thatta district of Sindh for many years.

Mastung Deputy Commissioner Qaim Lashari also confirmed the Kalat raid. “Hidayat Ullah led a group of IS operatives, who are present in different areas of Balochistan, and we hope to track them down pretty soon,” Lashari added.

News of Hidayat Ullah's death coincides with a small explosion in Chaman district bordering Afghanistan which wounded four people.

The bomb planted on a motorbike apparently targeted an FC vehicle and went off seconds after it passed by.

Opinion

Editorial

Short-changed?
Updated 24 Nov, 2024

Short-changed?

As nations continue to argue, the international community must recognise that climate finance is not merely about numbers.
Overblown ‘threat’
24 Nov, 2024

Overblown ‘threat’

ON the eve of the PTI’s ‘do or die’ protest in the federal capital, there seemed to be little evidence of the...
Exclusive politics
24 Nov, 2024

Exclusive politics

THERE has been a gradual erasure of the voices of most marginalised groups from Pakistan’s mainstream political...
Counterterrorism plan
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Counterterrorism plan

Lacunae in our counterterrorism efforts need to be plugged quickly.
Bullish stock market
23 Nov, 2024

Bullish stock market

NORMALLY, stock markets rise gradually. In recent months, however, Pakistan’s stock market has soared to one ...
Political misstep
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Political misstep

To drag a critical ally like Saudi Arabia into unfounded conspiracies is detrimental to Pakistan’s foreign policy.