[Dawn] With the help of intelligence agencies, police have captured Khalilullah, the Punjab chief of the proscribed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, and a young man trained for suicide bombing.Khalil, who was said to be the right hand of late Baitullah Mehsud, allegedly masterminded the twin suicide bombings at Iqbal Town's crowded Moon Market.
Police found explosive material and sensitive documents in the place where he was living.
According to sources, the cantonment division police and agency personnel had raided an outhouse of Malik Nazir in a Manawan locality 12 days ago and detained Khalil and the 17-year-old would-be suicide bomber, Usman alias Shahbaz.
On information provided by Khalil, police captured another eight terror suspects, three of them from Tandlianwala in Faisalabad district.
During interrogation, the suspects disclosed that they were to attack the flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagah border two days later.
Khalil told investigators that he had a team of 600 suicide bombers. According to sources, Khalil was on the US list of most-wanted terrorists.
Capital City Police Officer Pervez Rathor told Dawn that Khalil was involved in all terror acts in Punjab. He masterminded the Moon Market suicide bombings and provided logistic support to suicide bombers. He said Khalil arranged food, accommodation, weapons and vehicles for the bombers for attacks across the province.