GHQ attackers wanted to hold some generals hostage, Kayani was present in GHQ

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
ISLAMABAD: The perpetrators of terrorist attack on the GHQ on Saturday had a plan to hold some generals hostage to get their demands accepted. They wanted to storm the generals’ offices after entering the GHQ premises but the security ring on the internal periphery of the GHQ made it impossible for the attackers to cross the line and they had to penetrate the outer security office that was used as waiting room for the guests.

The GHQ defence mechanism worked well and it lived up to the moment of trial. Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was present in his office when the terrorists’ attack took place and the security officials informed him about it immediately. The general was asked to shift to the adjacent strong room built for such emergencies but he declined and stayed in his office. General Kayani, his staff and other officers kept on working normally during the action. The COAS left the GHQ for Islamabad while the firing was still going on. He had to attend a high level meeting in the federal capital and as soon as the meeting came to an end he returned to the GHQ.

Well placed sources in the GHQ told The News that the mastermind of the attack, Aqeel alias Dr Usman, was critically injured and three surgeons performed surgery upon him to save him for investigations as he could give important clues about the terror network in the country. The doctors are hopeful about his survival. The sources revealed that the GHQ had complete footage of the episode right from the firing of the first bullet to the last moment.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=24975