LAHORE: A former Pakistan Navy commando and his brother were detained in Lahore in connection with the PNS Mehran base attack.
The naval intelligence agency detained former navy commando Kamran Malik along with his brother Zaman from their residence in Gulberg. Malik was detained on the basis of a lead provided by one of the suspects that were arrested earlier from Karachi and Faislabad.
“They have been detained in connection with the naval base attack and are under interrogation,” one intelligence official said, without giving details.
Sources say Malik provided maps of the PNS Mehran base and other information to the terrorists.
The Express Tribune’s correspondent Asad Kharal reports that Malik was court martialled 10 years ago due to evidence that he tortured his colleague. He was subsequently admitted to the Combined Military Hospital and declared mentally unfit to serve as a navy commando. He went on to work as a seller of prize bonds.
During his service, Malik worked at PNS Mehran and PNS Iqbal naval base.
Eyewitnesses say that Malik and his brother were taken into custody on Friday morning at 10 am. 10 police officials, including a sub-inspector and other policemen in plain clothes, raided the house and took the men away.
Malik’s family claims that Malik has had no links with the navy since then. His father Sadruddin says that the accusations against Kamran are false, and that a judicial investigation should be conducted into the matter.
Tribune reporter Abdul Mannan reports that Malik’s phone was tapped by navy intelligence in 2008 when they suspected his involvement in an attack on a navy academy in Lahore. The attack left eight people dead and more than 20 injured. Malik’s name was on the list of suspects who were amongst a faction of radicalised, hardline members of the navy who may have corresponded with the terrorists that carried out the attack.
The list was re-investigated when the attack on the PNS Mehran base took place.
Suspects arrested from Karachi and Faislabad also claim that Malik provided them with information.
Terrorists attacked the PNS Mehran base on May 23, killing 10 navy personnel dead and destroying two PC3-Orion aircrafts. The monetary losses of the attack are estimated to be around $100 million.
The naval intelligence agency detained former navy commando Kamran Malik along with his brother Zaman from their residence in Gulberg. Malik was detained on the basis of a lead provided by one of the suspects that were arrested earlier from Karachi and Faislabad.
“They have been detained in connection with the naval base attack and are under interrogation,” one intelligence official said, without giving details.
Sources say Malik provided maps of the PNS Mehran base and other information to the terrorists.
The Express Tribune’s correspondent Asad Kharal reports that Malik was court martialled 10 years ago due to evidence that he tortured his colleague. He was subsequently admitted to the Combined Military Hospital and declared mentally unfit to serve as a navy commando. He went on to work as a seller of prize bonds.
During his service, Malik worked at PNS Mehran and PNS Iqbal naval base.
Eyewitnesses say that Malik and his brother were taken into custody on Friday morning at 10 am. 10 police officials, including a sub-inspector and other policemen in plain clothes, raided the house and took the men away.
Malik’s family claims that Malik has had no links with the navy since then. His father Sadruddin says that the accusations against Kamran are false, and that a judicial investigation should be conducted into the matter.
Tribune reporter Abdul Mannan reports that Malik’s phone was tapped by navy intelligence in 2008 when they suspected his involvement in an attack on a navy academy in Lahore. The attack left eight people dead and more than 20 injured. Malik’s name was on the list of suspects who were amongst a faction of radicalised, hardline members of the navy who may have corresponded with the terrorists that carried out the attack.
The list was re-investigated when the attack on the PNS Mehran base took place.
Suspects arrested from Karachi and Faislabad also claim that Malik provided them with information.
Terrorists attacked the PNS Mehran base on May 23, killing 10 navy personnel dead and destroying two PC3-Orion aircrafts. The monetary losses of the attack are estimated to be around $100 million.