Pakistani police arrested a senior Pakistani Taliban commander, Khalil Ullah, the chief of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in east province of Punjab, local TV channel reported Thursday.

Khalil was alleged the mastermind behind a market bombing in Punjab's capital city of Lahore on December 7 that killed more than 40 people, the private TV DAWN News reported.

According to police sources, he was arrested along with a young man trained for suicide bombing in Lahore over a week ago. Police also found explosive material and sensitive documents in the place where he was living.

On information provided by Khalil, police captured another eight terror suspects. During interrogation, the suspects disclosed that they were to attack the flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagah border two days later.

Khalil told investigators that he had a team of 600 suicide bombers.

Capital City Police Officer Pervez Rathor in Lahore told reporters that Khalil was involved in all terror acts in Punjab. He masterminded the Moon Market suicide bombings and provided logistic support to suicide bombers.

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