A suicide bomber who killed Chaudhry Aslam, one of Pakistan's most daring counter-terror officials, has been identified as the son of an imam, a media report said today.
According to initial investigations and evidence, police in Karachi believe that young Naeemullah, who was identified through fingerprints, carried out the deadly attack on Thursday, SP Niaz Khosa said.
Naeemullah was a seminary student and son of Rafiullah, the imam of Masjid Jamia Sidiqia and administrator of a madrassa in Karachi's restive Orangi Town, The Express Tribune reported.
Rafiullah and around half a dozen family members and comrades have been detained by the CID.
Some body parts found at the site, allegedly of the bomber, were sent to the National Database and Registration Authority for identification.
"(We are) 98 per cent sure that a suicide bomber hit the explosives-laden Suzuki cargo van with Aslam's (car)," Crime Investigation Department (CID) chief Zafar Bukhari said.
However, police officials insist that the investigation is only in its initial stages and things could change.
According to police officials, Rafiullah and Naeemullah are reportedly members of Zikria Mehsud group, the Tehrik-e- Taliban Pakistan's Karachi chapter. Police raided the suspect's house and detained family members in the past.
The Pakistani Taliban used around 200 kg of explosives for the suicide attack on Aslam, known for his crackdown on the outlawed militant group.
The blast killed Aslam, who had fearlessly hunted members of the banned group in Karachi despite at least three attacks on him.
A suicide attack on Aslam's home in Karachi in 2011 had killed eight persons though he escaped unhurt.
Shortly after Thursday's suicide bombing, Taliban spokesman Sajjad Mohmand told reporters that his group carried out the "successful" attack to avenge the killing of several Taliban fighters by police.
