A terrorist wanted for alleged involvement in the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team was killed in a shootout with police in Pakistan's Punjab province, officials said today
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Law enforcement agencies started checking vehicles near Ghazi Ghat bridge in Multan, 400 km from Lahore, after getting a tip-off yesterday that some terrorists were bound for the city in public transport. During the checking of a bus, a passenger tried to escape.u00a0
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This led to an exchange of fire with policemen and the man, identified as Abdul Ghafar Qaisrani alias Saifullah, was killed instantly.u00a0
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A grenade and two guns were found in his luggage. Saifullah was an active member of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and also worked for a militant faction known as the "Mateeullah group", officials said.u00a0
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Officials said Saifullah was tasked with raising funds for militants through bank robberies. He had received training in Afghanistan, they said.u00a0
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SSP (Operations) Gohar Nafees said the police action had prevented a "major terror attack" in Multan as Saifullah had come to the region to target sensitive installations.u00a0
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He said Saifullah was wanted for the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. International cricket in Pakistan has been suspended since a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March 2009.u00a0
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The attack left eight persons dead and seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach injured.
