Lahore shrine bombing facilitator gets death sentence

Lahore shrine bombing facilitator gets death sentence as an antiterrorism court (ATC) in Lahore convicted him.

ATC judgment

The ATC convicted Mohsin Khan and sentenced to death on 22 counts — 11 under the Pakistan Penal Code and 11 under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). It also awarded life imprisonment under the Explosive Substance Act.

Additionally, the ATC ordered him to pay compensation at the rate of Rs0.4 million per murder to the heirs of the deceased and Rs50,000 to each to the injured.

The case was registered on a complaint of the counterterrorism department. During Thursday’s hearing, the court ruled that the prosecution proved the convict’s crime.

Lahore shrine bombing facilitator

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab and Intelligence Bureau had arrested Data Darbar suicide bombing‘s facilitator in May 2019.

A senior official said that CTD and IB in joint operation arrested Mohsin Khan, son of Behram Khan, who belongs to Shabqada, Charsadda.

Data Darbar bombing plot

Mohsin told investigators that Tayyabullah alias Raaki, a resident of Mohmand district in KP, had received suicide bomber Sadiqullah Momand.

Afghan national involved

Surprisingly, the Afghan national Sadiqullah had entered Pakistan through Torkham on May 6.
Then, Raaki escorted him to Lahore where the bomber detonated leaving 12 people, including five elite force personnel, dead.

Later, the facilitator (Mohsin), handler and the suicide bomber stayed in a house in Bhati Gate area prior to the bombing.

Outlawed Deobandi takfiri outfit

Furthermore, the official said they had links with Hizbul Ahrar, a splinter group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan/Jamaatul Ahrar (TTP/JUA.)

That takfiri Deobandi terror group had also claimed the responsibility of the attack.

Soon after the blast, multiple Joint Operation Teams (JOTs) comprising officers from CTD and IB were formed.

They began following all possible leads.

The investigators collected evidence from the crime scene on scientific lines to ascertain the identity of the bomber. It aimed at ascertaining the type and quantity of the explosives used, etc, the official said.