Banned outfit linked to targeted killing of three Lahore cops

By Adnan Bhatti

LAHORE -- A banned outfit is allegedly involved in the targeted killing of three police personnel in Lahore, with police sources claiming that jailed militant Rauf Gujjar arranged the attacks through slain gunman Faizan Butt.

Police sources told GNN that Rauf Gujjar, who is currently imprisoned, played a key role in securing Faizan Butt’s release from jail and arranging his bail. Faizan later allegedly travelled to Afghanistan, where he met a man named Asim, who assigned him the task of killing six police personnel.

Police sources further said Faizan had been promised that he would be called back to Afghanistan after completing the task. He subsequently returned to Lahore and allegedly targeted three police personnel at different locations in 2024 before being killed in an encounter with the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in the Defence area.

The investigation has traced the alleged links between the recent attack and events dating back to 2013. In December that year, Sunni religious leader Shamsur Rehman was killed by unidentified assailants in Lahore. Ten days later, Shia scholar Allama Nasir from Multan was shot dead near FC College in the city.

When police investigated the two incidents, they discovered that both clerics had allegedly been killed with the same pistol and that the same individual was suspected of carrying out the attacks in an attempt to fuel sectarian tensions.

The alleged main suspect, Rauf Gujjar, was subsequently arrested along with his associates. Police sources said Gujjar belonged to the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and was associated with the Malik Ishaq group. A resident of Lahore’s Badami Bagh, he remains in jail.

About two years ago, police arrested Faizan Butt in a case involving illegal weapons and he was subsequently imprisoned. During his incarceration, he met Rauf Gujjar, who allegedly arranged his bail and release.

Police sources said Gujjar subsequently facilitated Faizan’s travel to Afghanistan’s Khorasan region, where he met Asim, who allegedly assigned him the task of killing six police personnel.

Faizan later returned to Lahore and allegedly killed three policemen before being killed in an encounter.

Two years later, the father of Faizan Butt allegedly contacted police and told them that his other son, Rehan, had returned home and asked them to arrest him.

According to police, the call was part of a planned trap. The attackers allegedly contacted Sub-Inspector Adil through an informer and conveyed that Rehan was present at the house. The sub-inspector arrived at the location with four other personnel to arrest Rehan when the attackers opened fire.

Sub-Inspector Adil and Head Constable Asad were martyred in the attack.

The three attackers then allegedly fled from Badami Bagh in a rickshaw and opened fire with sophisticated weapons on police personnel deployed outside the headquarters of a banned organisation near Yateem Khana. Five people, including a passer-by, were injured and taken to hospital.

One of the injured policemen, Constable Haris, a resident of Raja Jang in Kasur, later succumbed to his wounds.

After the attack near Yateem Khana, the assailants allegedly snatched a government vehicle and fled. The vehicle belonged to the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC).

Police teams pursued the attackers and launched an operation after tracing their hideout in Sheikhupura late at night. Rehan and his father, Faiaz Butt, were killed during the operation.

The third attacker, identified as Tariq and reportedly a resident of Kashmir Bagh, managed to escape.

Police officials said efforts were under way to arrest the absconding suspect and that he would be apprehended soon.

When contacted, Additional Inspector General of the Crime Control Department (CCD) Sohail Zafar Chattha said a special team has been formed to arrest Tariq, the third accomplice of the target killers.

SSP Investigation Lahore Muhammad Naveed said the target killers allegedly had links with a banned organisation, and this aspect was also being investigated.

Regional Police Officer Sheikhupura Athar Ismail said the operation against the attackers was conducted jointly with the Lahore Investigation Police. However, the third attacker, Tariq, remains at large.