In this file photo, residents light candles for lawyers killed on August 8, 2016 - Reuters 

QUETTA: The suspected facilitator of the 2016 Civil Hospital bombing has been killed in a shootout by the Counter Terrorism Department.

Police officials said the encounter took place on Qambrani Road, and led to the death of Asfandyar and the arrest of another accomplice. 

Officials said explosives and arms were recovered from the two. 

Balochistan Chief Minister Nawaz Sanaullah Zehri appreciated the police operation. 

On August 8, 2016, 73 people, including 56 lawyers, were killed and scores injured in a suicide bombing at the Civil Hospital. 

The lawyers had congregated at the hospital after the targetted killing of a senior lawyer. 

Mastermind of Quetta hospital attack among five killed in Pishin operation

Bugti said that the mastermind along with his four other terrorists had been killed in Hurmazai gun battle

In December last year, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said the mastermind of the hospital carnage and four other terrorists were killed in a security forces operation in Huramzai area of Pishin district.

Addressing a press conference at Chief Minister House, he said that intelligence agencies provided information that the suicide bomber who exploded himself at Civil Hospital Quetta on August 8 was sent from a hideout of Tehreek-e-Taliban in Huramzai area of Pishin district.

?Following tip-off, security forces launched a search operation in Huramzai area of Pishin district which led to an exchange of fire between the armed men and the personnel of law enforcement agencies,? he said.

Bugti said that the mastermind along with his four other terrorists had been killed in Hurmazai gun battle. ?The mastermind of Sandeman Civil Hospital Quetta was identified as Jahangir Badini,? he said.