RAWALPINDI – Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa on Wednesday said that terrorists are targeting now innocent people and students, but nation will defeat them on any cost.
During a media briefing, ISPR director general said that security forces got a big breakthrough after the terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University, Charsadda town. “We know everything about that where from terrorists are operating.” He said that terrorists used Afghanistan made SIMs. “We will not let them succeed in their purposes,” he said.
Unidentified terrorists entered Bacha Khan University situated outside Charsadda town of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday morning and opened fire on students. The assault resulted in death of more than 20 students, including a chemistry professor and female students.
ISPR director general informed journalists that 20 people dead in the attack and 11 others were injured after unidentified gunmen open fire on students in university. He said that 18 students and two staff members were also among dead. He said that all four terrorists were killed during cross fire with security forces.
He said that terrorists used Afghanistan made SIMs and details about company name would be brought to media later. He said that terrorists received instructions from Afghanistan as calls were coming on one a terrorist’s mobile after he was dead. He said that terrorists’ calls were traced and further intelligence operation was ongoing.
On the other hand, the mastermind of Peshawar’s Army Public School attack – Umar Mansoor – of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban has claimed the attack on Bacha Khan University.
Umar Mansoor – Taliban’s Geedar group leader and mastermind of deadly attack on the APS Peshawar in 2014 – took Facebook and shared a post in which he claimed the responsibility of Charsadda tragedy, adding that four attackers were sent to the university.
However, Taliban spokesperson Mohammad Khorasani denied Mansoor’s claim and condemned the attack, terming it “against Shariah”. He also warned that those elements using the name of Taliban would be brought to justice.
As the military officials announced the end of the clearance operation, mass casualties were feared in the attack reminiscent of the deadly December 2014 terrorist attack on the APS in Peshawar which left over 140 dead – most of them students.
Media reports said that the four attackers were wearing suicide vests but were killed by security forces before they could detonate their explosives. Armed assailants scaled university walls and opened fire on students. Multiple blasts were also heard along with continuous heavy gunfire.