Suspected mastermind behind Kohat Police Lines suicide attack killed in Lakki Marwat operation

Suspected terrorist commander Zahid Gul, mastermind behind the suicide attack at the old Kohat Police Lines, was killed in a coordinated operation by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police and security forces in Lakki Marwat district, according to police officials. The blast, which occurred during Friday prayers at a mosque in Kohat's Police Lines last month, claimed at least 21 lives, including 15 police personnel and six civilians.

The operation took place in the Wolai Sagai area, near the Bettani subdivision of Lakki Marwat, based on intelligence reports. Gul, affiliated with the proscribed Gul Bahadur group, was targeted during the raid. Police claim he played a crucial role in planning and coordinating the attack, guiding a suicide bomber to the designated target.

Additionally, Gul was linked to a bank robbery in Kohat, where Rs6 million was stolen and distributed among militant groups in the Baka Khel and Jani Khel areas. It is alleged that Gul maintained close ties with the Gul Bahadur group and assisted in bringing suicide bombers to Kohat for other attacks. The alleged commander also had plans to target a Pakistan Air Force installation and the police training school in Kohat.

Other members of the militant network have reportedly been detained by law enforcement agencies. The information provided by police officials has not yet been independently confirmed.