A militant commander suspected of orchestrating last month’s deadly suicide attack on the old Kohat Police Lines was killed on Friday during a joint intelligence-based operation by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police officials said.
The slain suspect was identified as Zahid Gul, an alleged member of the proscribed Gul Bahadur militant group who had been wanted by law enforcement agencies.
According to police, the operation was conducted in the Wolai Sagai area, near the Bettani subdivision of Lakki Marwat, formerly known as Frontier Region Lakki, following intelligence about the suspect’s presence.
Gul was accused of helping plan and facilitate the suicide bombing at a mosque inside Kohat’s old Police Lines during Friday prayers last month.
The attack killed at least 21 people, including 15 police personnel and six civilians.
Investigators alleged that Gul had personally guided the suicide attacker, who was driving an explosives-laden vehicle, towards the intended target.
Police also linked him to several other suspected militant activities, including a robbery at a bank in Kohat’s Bilitang area, during which approximately Rs6 million was stolen.
Officials claimed that the stolen money was subsequently distributed among militant groups operating in the Baka Khel and Jani Khel areas of Bannu.
According to investigators, Gul maintained close connections with the Gul Bahadur network and allegedly assisted several suicide bombers in reaching Kohat to carry out attacks.
Police further claimed that approximately two months earlier, he had facilitated another suicide bomber’s arrival for a planned attack on the new Kohat Police Lines. That attempt was reportedly prevented by law enforcement agencies.
Authorities also alleged that a Pakistan Air Force installation and the police training school in Kohat were among the potential targets of future attacks associated with the commander.
Officials said several other suspected members of the militant network had already been arrested during related investigations.
The circumstances of Gul’s death and the allegations concerning his involvement in the attacks were reported by police officials. The claims have not been independently verified.
Authorities have not disclosed further details about the operation or whether additional suspects remain at large.