PAKISTAN: Officials are laid to rest as military releases photos of dead suspects in army headquarters attack

Record ID: 588902

  • Title: PAKISTAN: Officials are laid to rest as military releases photos of dead suspects in army headquarters attack
  • Date: 12th October 2009
  • Summary: RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN (OCTOBER 11, 2009) (REUTERS) TWO COMMANDOS GUARDING MAIN GATE OF ARMY GENERAL HEADQUARTERS SOLDIER ON ROOF OF BUILDING COMMANDO GUN BARREL OF COMMANDO SOLDIERS IN MILITARY VEHICLE MILITARY VEHICLE ENTERING ARMY GENERAL HEADQUARTERS FIRE ENGINE ENTERING ARMY GENERAL HEADQUARTERS TWO SOLDIERS RUNNING MILITARY JEEP ENTERING ARMY GENERAL HEADQUARTERS SOLDIERS GUARDING GATE OF ARMY GENERAL HEADQUARTERS POLICEMEN SOLDIERS IN VEHICLE VARIOUS OF FUNERAL OF BRIGADIER ANWAR UL HAQ WHO WAS KILLED IN ATTACK ON ARMY GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
  • Embargoed: 27th October 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Obituaries
  • Reuters ID: LVA3RGIHH6MW51M8OCAKJA68VTT5
  • Story Text: Commandos stormed an office building on Sunday (October 11) and rescued 39 people whom suspected Taliban militants took hostage after a brazen attack on the army's headquarters a day earlier.
    Saturday's (October 10) attack on the tightly guarded army headquarters in the city of Rawalpindi came as the military prepared an offensive against the militants in their stronghold of South Waziristan on the Afghan border.
    Three hostages, two commandos and four of the gunmen were killed in the pre-dawn rescue operation, said army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas.
    Brigadier Anwar Ul Haq, who was killed by militants during the attack, was laid to rest on Sunday.
    One wounded gunman, Aqeel, alias Dr. Usman, was captured who Abbas said was the ringleader.
    The military released pictures of Aqeel, alias Dr. Usman as well as photographs of dead miltants killed by the army.
    A security official in Punjab said Usman was believed to be a member of the notorious Lashkar-e-Jhangvi group.
    He said militants arrested in Lahore had told security officials during interrogation that Aqeel masterminded the attack on the Sri Lankan team and provided weapons.
    The attack on the army came after a violent week.
    Last Monday (October 5), a suicide bomber attacked a U.N. office in Islamabad killing five members of staff, and on Friday (October 9) a suspected suicide bomber killed 49 people in Peshawar.
    The army has been preparing an offensive with air and artillery attacks but has not said when ground troops will go in.
    The United States needs Pakistani help against militants crossing into Afghanistan to fight U.S.-led forces there and has been urging action against Afghan Taliban factions on the border.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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