Four suspected terrorists arrested

Authorities claim to have arrested four suspected members of TTP.

ISLAMABAD:

In joint raids, city police and law enforcement agencies claimed to have arrested four suspected members of the terrorist organisation Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from the outskirts of the city. The suspects belong to the Bajaur faction of the Qari Zia-ur-Rehman led TTP.

The agencies also seized arms and ammunition from the suspects, who during initial investigations revealed they were planning kidnappings of foreigners and attacks on key government installations.

They were arrested from their rural hideout in Pindorian, Burma Town near Tarlai on information collected by intelligence agencies.

The suspects, Wahab, Umar, Zaheer Shah and Hassan Akhtar, all from Bajaur Agency, were responsible for carrying out surveillance of potential targets. Police sources said information extracted from the suspects would lead to further arrests.

Qari Zia-ur-Rehman, believed to be one of Osama bin Laden’s closest associates, has been reported to have been killed in a bombing by Pakistani jets in Mohmand Agancy. The Taliban
deny this.

Zia-ur-Rehman Group, based in Nuristan, is one of several Afghan provinces where the Taliban have complete control and established a shadow government.

According to recent intelligence reports, Al-Qaeda appears to be focusing on kidnapping foreign diplomats and important Pakistani officials to use as bargain chips for the release of its operatives currently detained by
secret agencies.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2011.