The mastermind of the deadly Dasu attack, a notorious Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader, has been killed in the Kunar region of Afghanistan, it emerged on Wednesday.
It is being reported that Rafiq, also known as Button Kharab, was killed near Paich Dara, Kunar Province, Afghanistan.
Tariq, who is a member of TTP, is the main brains behind the suicide bombing that killed nine 13 people including Chinese workers near Dasu hydropower plant in the Upper Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on July 14, 2021.
Following the explosion, the Chinese firm working on the project stopped working on the site citing “security concerns” and laid off all but the most essential Pakistani workers.
However, the company later withdrew the notification and the work on the project was resumed after a few months.
In November 2022, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) handed down the death sentence on 13 counts to each of the two men arrested in the DHPP terrorist attack case.
The court also imposed Rs40 million fine on the two convicted terrorists, besides awarding them a total of around 800 years of imprisonment; including life imprisonment.
The Foreign Office welcomed the verdict saying the decision demonstrated Pakistan’s commitment to counterterrorism.
“[…] the proactive investigation, prosecution and judgment in this case have once again demonstrated Pakistan’s abiding commitment to counterterrorism.”
