Peshawar, November 12, 2024 – A Peshawar Police Lines officer has been arrested for allegedly facilitating a suicide bomber in a devastating attack that took the lives of 86 police personnel. The suspect, identified as Muhammad Wali, reportedly aided the banned militant group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of a proscribed terrorist organization, in exchange for 200,000 Pakistani Rupees.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General (IG) Akhtar Hayat Khan disclosed at a press conference that Wali, driven by financial incentives, betrayed his own colleagues. Authorities apprehended him in Peshawar’s Jameel Chowk, where they also recovered two suicide vests.
According to IG Khan, Wali joined the police force in 2019 and established contact with Jamaat-ul-Ahrar in 2021. By January 30, 2023, he had provided the group with key intelligence, including detailed maps of the Police Lines, allowing a suicide bomber to infiltrate the premises. The resulting explosion marked one of the deadliest attacks in recent history. Following the incident, Wali allegedly informed handlers in Afghanistan of the attack’s success.
The IG revealed further details of Wali’s criminal background, including his involvement in targeting a priest in January 2022 and in another attack on Warsak Road. Using his police uniform, Wali conducted reconnaissance, filmed potential target sites, and shared the footage with militants. Intelligence reports indicate he was planning another terror attack when authorities intercepted him.
In his confession, Wali admitted to joining Jamaat-ul-Ahrar under the influence of a social media contact named Junaid. He later traveled to Afghanistan, where he met with senior Jamaat-ul-Ahrar leaders, including Mohammad Khorasani. Although Afghan authorities detained Wali briefly, Junaid reportedly secured his release.
The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) confirmed Wali’s arrest with two suicide vests in his possession and noted his role in aiding the cross-border movement of arms and explosives. CTD officials emphasized the importance of this arrest, which has exposed the presence of militant sympathizers within law enforcement ranks.
The January 2023 suicide bombing, one of the deadliest attacks on police personnel in recent memory, underscored the ongoing threat from militant infiltrators within security forces.
