Pakistan police kills Lashkar-e-Jhangvi chief, two sons

Malik Ishaq, the chief of banned sectarian outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, his two sons and 11 top members of the group linked to Al Qaeda were killed in an "encounter" in Pakistan's Punjab province, police said on Wednesday.

Ishaq, who has been accused of masterminding dozens of attacks against the minority Shia community, his sons Usman and Haq Nawaz, and 11 other senior members of the group were killed in an encounter with police personnel late on Tuesday night in the Muzaffargarh district of Punjab province, police said.

At least six policemen were injured in the encounter which lasted for more than two hours, they said. Ishaq and his sons were arrested by the counter-terrorism department a week ago.

A top police officer said Ishaq, his sons and three other terrorists were taken to Shahwala in Muzaffargarh by the counter-terrorism department for recovery of weapons and on their return they were attacked by LeJ militants.

"The militants were freed by the attackers who fled on motorbike," he said. However, an officer of CTD who was informed about the incident was travelling on the road taken by the fleeing terrorist. The officer challenged the militants, which led to heavy exchange of fire.

"In the clash, 14 militants were killed, including Ishaq and two sons, while three policemen were injured," he said.

Citing a spokesman of CTD, local media reported that Ishaq was killed by the attackers to avoid his arrest. He belonged to Rahimyar Khan district of Punjab and his death is a big blow to the LeJ which is involved in killing of hundreds of Shias.

The LeJ chief, one of the founders of the group set up in mid-1990s, was involved in several murder cases and was arrested in 1997. He was kept in jail for 14 years and released in 2011. He was also believed to be the mastermind of 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.

LeJ, with ties to Al Qaeda, has been accused of developing links with the Islamic State group.

The group had claimed responsibility for January 2013 blasts in the southwestern city of Quetta that killed over a hundred members of the Shia Hazara community.

In February 2013, LeJ claimed responsibility for another attack in the same neighbourhood that killed around 80 members from the Hazara community.

Image: Lashkar-e-Jhangvi leader Malik Ishaq speaks during an interview with Reuters at his home in Rahim Yar Khan in southern Punjab province October 9, 2012. Photograph: Mian Khursheed/Reuters