KP police push for arrest of TTP commander behind Peshawar plane attack

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have asked the political authorities of Khyber Agency to arrest Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants involved in the attack on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft at Peshawar airport earlier this week. The police identified commander Shahid of TTP from Dara Adamkhel for being responsible for the attack and suggested that head money of Rs10 million should be announced for his arrest. A high ranking police source confirmed that a letter has been written to the Political Agent of Khyber Agency and the Dara Adamkhel Administration to arrest the militant commander involved in the attack. The source further said that the political authorities have also been requested for the arrest of over 600 wanted terrorists and criminals. Unidentified gunmen had attacked the PIA Boeing PK-756 as it came in to land at Peshawar's Bacha Khan Airport on June 25, killing a woman and injuring two flight stewards on board. The PIA Boeing PK-756 had 196 passengers on board, arriving from Riyadh when it was fired upon. Airline officials said the gunmen had aimed specifically at the highly flammable fuel tank as they sought to blow up the aircraft, as well as the cockpit, to kill the pilot.