Malik Ishaq, Head of the banned Pakistani Sunni extremist outifit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and the alleged mastermind of the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009, was killed in an attempted breakout from Pakistan police late on Tuesday (28)

 

Ishaq, who had been detained last week, was in a police convoy in Punjab province when supporters opened fire in an attempt to free him, said police.

 

Police also said Ishaq was killed in a gun fight along with his two sons and 11 militants in Muzaffargarh district.

 

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) has been behind some of the most violent attacks on Shia Muslims in recent years.

 

Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada confirmed the news, while a doctor at Muzaffargarh District Hospital said 14 bodies had been received there.

 

Six police officers were also reported injured but correspondents say the extent of their injuries is unclear.

(With inputs from international media)