Pakistan holds head of group that claimed Quetta bombings

Malik Ishaq, the leader of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ), was detained at his residence in the central city of Rahim Yar Khan and taken to the local jail.

"Malik Ishaq has been detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law on the orders of the Punjab provincial government," a senior police official in Rahim Yar Khan, Tanveer Ahmad, told AFP.

It came after two deadly bombings in the southern city of Quetta in recent weeks targeting the Shiite Hazara minority sparked protests, prompting the government to promise to catch those responsible.

On Saturday last week, 89 people were killed in a bombing, while 92 people were killed in an attack at a Hazara snooker hall on January 10. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ) claimed responsibility for both attacks.

A spokesman for the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) government in Punjab, Pervaiz Rasheed, confirmed the news and said Ishaq would be held for one month.

"There were complaints against him, that he had been making provocative speeches in the past month," he said.