The law enforcement agencies apprehended Muhammad Wali, the central figure behind the January 30, 2023, suicide attack at the Police Lines mosque, which claimed the lives of 101 people and injured 223 others.

Muhammad Wali, a constable in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police, was allegedly found to be part of a terror network operating within the police ranks. This arrest sheds light on Wali’s deep involvement with the militant group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, which orchestrated multiple attacks in Pakistan.

Wali, a resident of Peshawar who joined the KP Police in 2019, reportedly made initial contact with a Jamaat-ul-Ahrar recruiter named Junaid in 2021. According to police sources, Wali was recruited and radicalized while in service, a disturbing example of extremism infiltrating law enforcement.

Trail of violence

After meeting Junaid in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Wali was introduced to commanders Salahuddin and Makram Khorasani and joined the terror outfit. He allegedly received funds and logistical support from Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and pledged allegiance to Mullah Yusuf, one of the group’s leaders. From that point, Wali became heavily involved in organizing and executing attacks within Pakistan.

On January 20, 2023, Wali reportedly assisted a suicide bomber named Qari, an Afghan national, in targeting the Police Lines mosque.

Wali’s role included coordinating logistics, conducting reconnaissance, and assisting in the bomber’s infiltration, donning a police uniform. After the attack, Wali received a reward of 200,000 PKR.

In addition to the Police Lines attack, Wali is also suspected of involvement in other terrorist incidents, including targeted assassinations of police personnel, bomb attacks on Warsak Road, and grenade attacks at Gilani Market in December 2023.

He allegedly maintained contact with various Jamaat-ul-Ahrar operatives in Peshawar and Lahore, providing weapons used in attacks on both law enforcement and religious minorities.

Authorities report that Wali received monthly financial compensation, approximately Rs40,000–Rs50,000, through a hawala network from Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, which funded his activities. He is said to have smuggled weaponry and explosives across the border to support various terrorist attacks planned within Pakistan.

The arrest of Muhammad Wali represents a critical success in the ongoing battle against terror networks targeting Pakistan. However, the incident raises troubling questions about the infiltration of extremist ideologies into sensitive areas of law enforcement.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa IG Akhtar Hayat Khan’s viewpoint

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General (IG) Police Akhtar Hayat Khan in a press conference held in Peshawar on Tuesday and shared shocking details about Muhammad Wali, a serving constable, who has been arrested as a major facilitator in multiple terrorist attacks, including the devastating Peshawar Police Line suicide bombing on January 30, 2023.

The suicide bombing resulted in 101 deaths and left 223 others injured.

IG Akhtar Hayat disclosed that Wali, a police constable since 2019, became involved with the militant group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) after being influenced by a handler, Junaid, on social media. This handler, operating from Afghanistan, recruited Wali in early 2021 and introduced him to JuA commanders. Upon meeting terrorist leaders Salahuddin and Makram Khorasani in Afghanistan, Wali swore allegiance to Mullah Yusuf and formally joined JuA’s ranks. Despite being briefly detained by Afghan forces on his return, Wali resumed his duties in Pakistan, maintaining regular communication with JuA through encrypted channels.

In January 2023, Wali was allegedly instructed by Junaid to orchestrate the Peshawar Police Line attack as retribution for the death of JuA Commander Khalid Khorasani. Wali provided detailed maps and photographs of the police site and arranged for the suicide bomber, known as Qari, to execute the attack. Following the successful bombing, Wali reportedly received a payment of Rs. 2 lakh through the Hawala system.

Inspector General Akhtar Hayat further stated that Wali’s extremist activities spanned years and included targeted assassinations and bomb attacks across KP. In 2022, Wali is alleged to have arranged for the killing of a Christian pastor in Peshawar and coordinated hand-grenade attacks in December 2023 in Peshawar’s Gilani Market. He also supplied explosives, firearms, and suicide jackets for further attacks in Lahore and KP, using his position to facilitate JuA’s operations.

Wali’s extensive involvement underscores the infiltration of terrorist operatives within security ranks, according to IG Akhtar Hayat. The police are intensifying efforts to prevent similar incidents by strengthening internal controls and taking steps to remove individuals who may be compromised by extremist affiliations. The case will be diplomatically pursued with Afghan authorities to ensure cross-border cooperation in the ongoing fight against terrorism.

Akhtar Hayat acknowledged the vulnerabilities within the police force that allowed Wali to operate undetected for years. Moving forward, he pledged comprehensive reforms to improve security protocols and prevent further exploitation by extremist elements.