Kidnapper of Pakistan Governor's son among 6 killed

Islamabad: Six terrorists, including the alleged kidnapper of the son of assassinated Pakistani Governor Salman Taseer, were killed in an encounter in Punjab province, officials said on Monday.

Militant Haji Mohammad, who was killed on Saturday, was involved in the kidnapping of Shahbaz Taseer, son of slain Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, Geo news reported citing Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) officials on Monday.

A CTD official told Dawn online that they had received information that nine to 10 members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terror group were present in Sheikhupura town of Punjab province, planning an attack on the offices of law enforcement agencies.

Around 12.30 a.m., the CTD team raided a house near the Sheikhupura Bypass. "Noticing their presence, the terrorists ... tried to flee by a car and two motorcycles," an official said.

Arms and ammunition, including three Kalashnikov rifles, three pistols, two kg of explosives, primer cords and a cache of live ammunition were seized from the militants.

Shahbaz Taseer was kidnapped from Lahore on August 26, 2011, near his company's head office, a few months after the assassination of his father at the hands of his bodyguard Mumtaz Qadri.

Shahbaz was recovered from Balochistan earlier this year.