Two key operatives of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the custody of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in Bahawalpur were shot dead by their terrorist associates.
Luckily, the CTD team narrowly escaped injury during the exchange of fire with the ambushed terrorists, 24News HD TV Channel reported on Wednesday.
According to the CTD officials, the slain terrorists were identified as Adeel alias Saifullah Khorasani and Zain alias Asadullah Khorasani and they were important operatives of the outlawed TTP.
The officials said Adeel and Zain were being taken to recover sophisticated weapons hidden in Bahawalpur. Meanwhile, their terrorist colleagues ambushed and opened fire, during an exchange of heavy fire with the CTD team both terrorists under custody were killed by their colleague terrorists' firing.
The elimination of the terrorists was part of a plan devised following the assassination of Federal Minister for Housing and Works Riaz Hussain Pirzada.
The CTD officials said both slain militants were arrested from Hasilpur during an investigation into a murder case. They said the slain terrorist Adeel alias Saifullah Khorasani had formed a four-member TTP network to assassinate the federal minister. But, these four network members had been apprehended a few days prior, the CTD officials said, adding that raids are underway to apprehend the fugitive terrorists responsible for the gunfire.
Reporter: Rana Faran Yameen