Muhammad Wali, a constable with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police, was allegedly linked to a terror network operating within the police force. His arrest reveals his deep ties to the militant group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, which has been involved in several attacks across Pakistan.
Wali, a Peshawar resident who joined the KP Police in 2019, reportedly first connected with Jamaat-ul-Ahrar recruiter Junaid in 2021. According to police sources, Wali was radicalized and recruited while serving in the police, highlighting the concerning issue of extremism infiltrating law enforcement ranks.
After meeting Junaid in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Muhammad Wali was introduced to Jamaat-ul-Ahrar commanders Salahuddin and Makram Khorasani, officially joining the terror group. He allegedly received financial and logistical support from Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and pledged loyalty to one of its leaders, Mullah Yusuf. From that moment, Wali became deeply involved in coordinating and executing attacks within Pakistan.
On January 20, 2023, Wali reportedly aided a suicide bomber named Qari, an Afghan national, in planning the deadly attack on the Police Lines mosque.
Muhammad Wali played a key role in the January 2023 Police Lines attack, coordinating logistics, conducting reconnaissance, and helping the suicide bomber infiltrate the mosque by providing a police uniform. Following the attack, Wali reportedly received a reward of 200,000 PKR.
In addition to his involvement in the Police Lines bombing, Wali is suspected of participating in other terrorist activities, including targeted assassinations of police officers, bomb attacks on Warsak Road, and grenade attacks at Gilani Market in December 2023.
Wali allegedly maintained contact with Jamaat-ul-Ahrar operatives in Peshawar and Lahore, supplying weapons for attacks on law enforcement and religious minorities. Authorities report that he received a monthly payment of Rs40,000–Rs50,000 through a hawala network, which funded his activities. He is also accused of smuggling weapons and explosives across the border to support planned terrorist operations within Pakistan.
Wali’s arrest marks a significant victory in the fight against terror networks in Pakistan. However, it also raises alarming concerns about the infiltration of extremist ideologies within law enforcement.
