New Delhi: Chief of Harkatul Mujahideen Fazlur Rehman Khalil has been detained by the Pakistan police. Khalil has reportedly been placed under protective custody.
Pakistani officials fear a backlash against Khalil following the death of chief Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi in Tuesday's security operation.
Khalil was a part of the government's negotiating team with the clerics. He also figures on India's most wanted list.
According to media reports the Indian government has asked for his handover to India.
Khalil was taken into protective custody after the death of Ghazi who was killed in the military operation in the mosque yesterday.
"Fazlur Rehman Khalil has been taken into protective custody at his residence-cum-madrassa in Islamabad in view of the security situation," Daily Times quoted officials as saying.
Khalil was a close aide of Ghazi and used by the government negotiators to hold talks with Ghazi on Monday night.
He was taken into protective custody to avoid a backlash following Ghazi's death, they said.
They said Farooq Kashmiri, another militant commander, who was called in from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, (POK) was already in the government's custody.
(With agency inputs)
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