PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have arrested one of their constables, Mohammad Wali, in connection with facilitating a deadly suicide bombing at the Peshawar Lines mosque that killed 84 people, mostly police officers.
Provincial Police Chief Akhtar Hayat Gandapur confirmed the arrest on Tuesday during a press conference, revealing that Wali, a former constable, was taken into custody on Monday in the Jamil Chowk area of Peshawar.
During questioning, Wali confessed to playing a key role in the January 2023 attack by providing a map of the mosque, conducting reconnaissance, and escorting the suicide bomber to the compound.
Wali, who is affiliated with the banned militant group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, admitted to having met with members of the group, including its spokesperson Mohammad Khurasani. He further disclosed that in 2021, he was recruited by a man named “Junaid,” a Jamaat-ul-Ahrar recruiter based in Afghanistan.
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Wali traveled to Afghanistan to meet Junaid, where he received Rs 200,000 through the informal hundi-hawala system for his involvement in terrorist activities. Additionally, he received a monthly salary of Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 from the group.
Beyond his involvement in the mosque bombing, Wali also confessed to participating in several other terrorist acts, including IED attacks on Warsak Road in 2023-2024, a grenade attack in Ghulani Market in December 2023, and the murder of a Christian pastor in Peshawar in 2022.
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He also facilitated the killing of an Ahmadi man in Lahore in February 2024 and two police officers in March 2024. Police recovered two suicide vests during a raid linked to Wali’s activities.
The police chief highlighted the growing influence of social media in radicalizing individuals, particularly in Khyber and southern districts. Despite regular background checks for new recruits and the use of advanced technologies, he emphasized that combating terrorism remains an ongoing and challenging effort.