This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/30/world/asia/malik-ishaq-leader-of-lashkar-e-jhangvi-militant-group-in-pakistan-is-said-to-die-in-attack-on-police-convoy.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Malik Ishaq, Militant Leader in Pakistan, Is Said to Die in Attack on Police Convoy Malik Ishaq, Anti-Shiite Leader in Pakistan, Is Killed Trying to Escape, Authorities Say
(about 17 hours later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The leader of a banned Sunni extremist group that is believed to have killed hundreds of Pakistani Shiites in a series of bombings died in a shootout Wednesday after supporters tried to free him from police custody, the Pakistani authorities said. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The leader of a banned Sunni extremist group that is believed to have killed hundreds of Pakistani Shiites in a series of bombings died in a shootout Wednesday after supporters tried to free him from police custody, the Pakistani authorities said.
Thirteen supporters of Malik Ishaq, the leader of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, were also killed in the clash early Wednesday morning in Punjab Province, said Shuja Khanzada, Punjab’s home minister. Mr. Khanzada said armed supporters attacked a police convoy that was transporting Mr. Ishaq, his sons and three of his aides, all of whom had been arrested Saturday on suspicion of involvement in sectarian killings.Thirteen supporters of Malik Ishaq, the leader of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, were also killed in the clash early Wednesday morning in Punjab Province, said Shuja Khanzada, Punjab’s home minister. Mr. Khanzada said armed supporters attacked a police convoy that was transporting Mr. Ishaq, his sons and three of his aides, all of whom had been arrested Saturday on suspicion of involvement in sectarian killings.
The two sons were among the dead, Mr. Khanzada said. Six police officers were wounded, and some of the attackers escaped, according to the police.The two sons were among the dead, Mr. Khanzada said. Six police officers were wounded, and some of the attackers escaped, according to the police.
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has claimed responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of Shiites, including two bombings in the western city of Quetta in early 2013 that killed nearly 200 people. Additionally, Mr. Ishaq was accused of having masterminded a 2009 attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team in the eastern city of Lahore.Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has claimed responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of Shiites, including two bombings in the western city of Quetta in early 2013 that killed nearly 200 people. Additionally, Mr. Ishaq was accused of having masterminded a 2009 attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team in the eastern city of Lahore.
Mr. Ishaq was imprisoned from 1997 to 2011 and had been accused in more than 60 criminal cases, but he was never successfully prosecuted. Analysts called that a reflection of Pakistan’s weak judicial system, in which militants are able to intimidate judges and witnesses, as well as political leaders.Mr. Ishaq was imprisoned from 1997 to 2011 and had been accused in more than 60 criminal cases, but he was never successfully prosecuted. Analysts called that a reflection of Pakistan’s weak judicial system, in which militants are able to intimidate judges and witnesses, as well as political leaders.
Arif Rafiq, an adjunct fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, who has written extensively on sectarianism and militancy in Pakistan, said Mr. Ishaq’s killing had “significant symbolic value.” His release from prison in 2011 “represented the impunity that anti-Shia terrorists enjoyed in Pakistan,” particularly in Punjab Province, Mr. Rafiq said.Arif Rafiq, an adjunct fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, who has written extensively on sectarianism and militancy in Pakistan, said Mr. Ishaq’s killing had “significant symbolic value.” His release from prison in 2011 “represented the impunity that anti-Shia terrorists enjoyed in Pakistan,” particularly in Punjab Province, Mr. Rafiq said.
In recent years, however, Mr. Ishaq had been supplanted by a younger generation of militants, Mr. Rafiq said. “Still, his killing is an indication that the Pakistani state is serious about targeting anti-Shia militants,” he said.In recent years, however, Mr. Ishaq had been supplanted by a younger generation of militants, Mr. Rafiq said. “Still, his killing is an indication that the Pakistani state is serious about targeting anti-Shia militants,” he said.
Mr. Rafiq noted that Pakistan had seen a substantial decline in sectarian attacks in the past year, since the Pakistani military began an offensive against militant hide-outs in the country’s rugged semiautonomous tribal regions.Mr. Rafiq noted that Pakistan had seen a substantial decline in sectarian attacks in the past year, since the Pakistani military began an offensive against militant hide-outs in the country’s rugged semiautonomous tribal regions.
Some Pakistanis expressed skepticism about the official account of Mr. Ishaq’s killing, noting that Pakistan, and Punjab Province in particular, has a history of extrajudicial killings of militants by the security forces.Some Pakistanis expressed skepticism about the official account of Mr. Ishaq’s killing, noting that Pakistan, and Punjab Province in particular, has a history of extrajudicial killings of militants by the security forces.
“Malik Ishaq’s killing in a suspect police encounter shows that the state itself does not seem to have faith in its own legal and justice system,” said Omar R. Quraishi, an editor at the ARY news network. “Malik Ishaq’s killing in a suspect police encounter shows that the state itself does not seem to have faith in its own legal and justice system,” said Omar R. Quraishi, an editor at the ARY News network.