On 16 August 2015, two suspected suicide bombers detonated explosives at the home office of Punjab Interior Minister Shuja Khanzada in the Attock District village of Shadikhan, 80 km (50 mi) from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. The blasts killed the minister and 18 other people; at least 17 people were injured and taken to hospitals.[2][3][4][5] Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), a Deobandi militant group with ties to Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack,[6] and it was later determined that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan was also involved.
| Assassination of Shuja Khanzada | |
|---|---|
  Assassination of Shuja Khanzada (Pakistan) | |
| Location | Shadikhan, Attock District, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 33°55′21″N 72°22′46″E / 33.92250°N 72.37944°E |
| Date | 16 August 2015 |
| Target | Shuja Khanzada, civilians |
Attack type | Assassination, suicide attack |
| Weapons | Explosive belt |
| Deaths | 19 |
| Injured | 17 |
| Perpetrators | Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) |
| Motive | Revenge[1] |
Attack
editOn Sunday, 16 August 2015, 71-year-old Shuja Khanzada was meeting with relatives and friends at his home office in the village of Shadikhan to condole the death of a relative who had died in the United Kingdom, when the attack was perpetrated by two men strapped with a combined 15 kg (33 lb) of explosives. According to the initial investigation, the bombers' intent was to collapse the building. The first bomber entered Khanzada's home office, shook his hand and detonated the device while standing next to one of the pillars on the veranda. It is believed a second bomber, standing on the street next to the building, then detonated his explosives, causing the building to collapse[7] when the roof of the house caved in, trapping an unknown number of people under the rubble.[5][2]
Investigation
editAccording to a preliminary investigation, the attack may have been retaliation for the killing of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant leader Malik Ishaq by the Punjab Police.[2] Later investigation by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Punjab Police and Inter-Services Intelligence determined that the terrorist group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan was also involved.[8] On 1 October, CTD raided a house in Iqbal Town, Lahore, killing four people suspected of being involved in the bombing.[9]
In September 2015, one suspect, Qasim Muavia, was arrested. Two years later in August 2017, the Punjab government transferred his trial to military court, stating that civilian court was taking too long.[10] An additional suspect was arrested in March 2016,[11] and in October 2017, one more suspect was killed during a confrontation with police.[12]
The attack was strongly condemned throughout the country, including by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Shareef.[1]
International reactions
editThe attack was condemned by international leaders, including United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who called for justice against those who planned the attack.[13]
The United States also condemned the attack and offered to assist with the investigation. The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad issued a statement, saying, "We support Pakistan's determination to bring to justice those behind the attack and are prepared to provide assistance, if requested, to government authorities investigating this reprehensible act."[14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Khanzada attack in retaliation of LeJ chief's killing: sources". Express Tribune. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ^ a b c "Punjab minister Shuja Khanzada killed in Pakistan blast". BBC. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ^ "Death toll in Pakistan's Attock suicide attack rises to 20". The Economic Times. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan police arrests two for spying on slain minister Shuja Khanzada". The Economic Times. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ a b Ali, Sarfraz (16 August 2015). "Death toll rises to 19 in suicide attack at Punjab Interior Minister Shuja Khanzada's political office in Attock". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ^ Daud, Khawaja. "Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada dies in suicide attack". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 16 August 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Hussain, Fayyaz (18 August 2015). "15 kg explosives used in attack on Shuja Khanzada". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ^ Asad, Malik; Asghar, Mohammad (30 September 2015). "TTP group involved in Attock suicide bombing". Dawn. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- ^ Gabol, Imran (1 October 2015). "Shuja Khanzada murder: Four suspects killed in CTD 'encounter'". Dawn. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- ^ Asad, Malik (19 August 2017). "Shuja Khanzada murder case shortlisted for military court". Dawn. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- ^ "Key terrorist involved in Shuja Khanzada murder arrested". Dunya News. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- ^ "Shuja Khanzada murder: Suspected terrorist killed in police encounter in Karachi". Pakistan Today. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- ^ Ali, Sarfraz (17 August 2015). "Ban Ki-moon condemns Attock terrorist attack". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ^ "US offers help to probe Pak minister's killing". Tribune India. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.