17 Facts About Malik Ishaq

Malik Ishaq was a Pakistani militant globally designated terrorist, and leader and co-founder of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi terrorist organization.

Formerly a member of anti-Shia militant group Sipah-e-Sahaba, Ishaq co-founded the LeJ in 1996.

Malik Ishaq was accused of masterminding the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in 2009, and the Ashura bombings in Afghanistan in 2011.

Malik Ishaq was killed, along with his two sons and deputy Ghulam Rasool Shah, in a police encounter on 29 July 2015, the circumstances of which are disputed.

Malik Ishaq was described by various news agencies as Pakistan's most feared terror kingpin.

Malik Ishaq was sanctioned as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List by the United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Malik Ishaq was born to a poor family in Rahim Yar Khan District of Punjab, Pakistan.

Malik Ishaq came under the influence of Haq Nawaz Jhangvi, the founder of anti-Shia militant group Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, in the 1980s.

Malik Ishaq became an active participant in the SSP's activities, and was jailed for the first time for acts of hate speech during Muharram in 1989.

Malik Ishaq confessed his involvement in the killing of 102 Shias to an Urdu newspaper in October 1997, before being rearrested.

Malik Ishaq assumed senior leadership of LeJ from jail after Basra was killed in a police encounter in 2002.

Malik Ishaq was never convicted, owing to weak evidence and intimidation of judges and witnesses.

Malik Ishaq was released on bail after 14 years in July 2011, amid speculation of a deal and growing ties with the Pakistan Muslim League, the ruling party in Punjab.

Malik Ishaq was showered with rose petals by supporters, and received by Tahir Ashrafi and SSP president Ahmad Ludhianvi.

Malik Ishaq was rearrested after the LeJ claimed responsibility for multiple bombings that killed over 200 Hazara Shias in Quetta in January and February, 2013.

Malik Ishaq was killed in Muzaffargarh, Punjab, in a police encounter with the Counter Terrorism Department of the Punjab Police on the morning of 29 July 2015, along with his two sons, Usman and Haq Nawaz.

Also killed among Malik Ishaq's entourage were 11 others, including his deputy and purported LeJ second-in-command Syed Ghulam Rasool Shah, as well as Shah's two sons.