Saturday, December 25 2004 18:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: With two soldiers being sentenced for assassination attempt on President Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan Government has launched a manhunt for Libyan born al-Qaeda operative Abu Faraj al-Libbi, who allegedly masterminded the attacks and offered a hefty sum of 3.45 lakh for information leading to his arrest.

According to officials, Libbi is one of the most-wanted men in Pakistan and authorities have offered Rs 3.45 lakh for information leading to his arrest.

Libbis close associate and an activist of banned Islamic militant group, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Amjad Hussain Farooqi was killed on September 26 in Nawabshah in Pakistan. Farooqi was blamed for his close association with Labbi in attacks on President Musharraf.

A military jawan, Islamuddin was sentenced to death while Havaldar Younis was awarded with 10 years hard labour in prison after the military court found them guilty of attempting to blow up a bridge on which Musharraf's convoy passed near Rawalpindi on December 14 last year.

Musharraf narrowly escaped on December 14 last when a powerful explosion rocked a bridge in a heavily guarded military area in Rawalpindi just seconds after his motorcade had passed. The explosion was delayed by electronic jammers, which were of Musharraf's convoy.

He survived a second attack in the same area December 25 last when two suicide bombers rammed explosives-laden vehicles into the presidential motorcade, killing 17 persons, mostly policemen.

Musharraf himself has identified al-Libbi as the mastermind behind the attacks.