Police say Zahid Gul facilitated suicide bombing, financed militant groups with Rs6 million from bank robbery
Army personnel inspect following an explosion inside the police headquarters at Kohat in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on September 18, 2026. Photo: AFP
A suspected mastermind behind the suicide attack on the old Kohat Police Lines, terrorist commander Zahid Gul, was killed during a joint intelligence-based operation conducted by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police and security forces in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat district on Friday, police officials said.
Last month, at least 21 people, including 15 police personnel and six civilians, were killed in the blast at a mosque in Kohat’s Police Lines during Friday prayers.
According to officials, the operation was carried out in the Wolai Sagai area, adjacent to the Bettani subdivision of Lakki Marwat, formerly known as Frontier Region Lakki, on the basis of intelligence reports. Gul, who was wanted by law enforcement agencies and was affiliated with the proscribed Gul Bahadur group, was killed during the operation.
Police officials alleged that Gul had played a key role in planning and facilitating the suicide attack on the old Kohat Police Lines. He had allegedly guided the suicide bomber, who was driving an explosives-laden vehicle, to the target.
Read: Initial probe reveals terrorists planned prolonged siege in Kohat Police Lines attack
Officials further claimed that Gul was involved in a bank robbery in the Bilitang area of Kohat, in which Rs6 million was looted. The money was subsequently distributed among militant groups operating in the Baka Khel and Jani Khel areas of Bannu, they said.
According to police, Gul maintained close links with the Gul Bahadur group and had facilitated the arrival of several suicide bombers in Kohat for carrying out attacks.
Officials said that around two months ago, Gul had also brought a suicide bomber to attack the new Kohat Police Lines. However, the plan was foiled by law enforcement agencies.
Police further alleged that a Pakistan Air Force installation and the police training school in Kohat were among the potential targets of future attacks planned by the slain commander.
Officials said other members of the militant network had already been taken into custody by law enforcement agencies.
The allegations against Gul and details of the operation were provided by police officials. No independent confirmation of the claims was cited in the account.
