In a major breakthrough in anti-terror operations, Pakistan police killed seven militants of the banned militant outfit Harkatul Mujahideen, including its chief Osama Nazir, who carried a half million rupee reward on his head.

The seven were killed in a special operation on Saturday in Dera Ismail Khan town, Pakistan's Online news agency reported.

Nazir, who has taken part in militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in the past, hailed from Bahawalpur and police accused him and his associates of being responsible for the suicide attacks against Pakistani Christian institutions in Murree, Taxila and other cities.

Harkatul Mujahideen is a splinter organization, which has close links with Al Qaeda.

Earlier, Nazir worked for militant outfits like Jaish-e-Muhammad and later formed the Harkatul Mujahideen after developing differences with the Jaish leadership.

The dead bodies of the militants were kept in Nishtar hospital, Multan, the reports said.