7 suspects arrested, explosives recovered near Kuchlak

Pakistani police officials stand beside seized explosive material on display in Quetta on May 30, 2012. PHOTO: AFP

QUETTA:  Police claimed to have averted a major tragedy after it rounded up seven suspects near Kuchlak, on the outskirts of Quetta on Wednesday and seized large amounts of explosives from two vehicles.

According to Police official Jalal Tareen, a truck and a pickup were on their way from Zhob district to Quetta, when police deputed near Kuchlak intercepted them and recovered a large cache of explosives packed in separate bags were recovered.

Police said they recovered 2,00 explosives, 110 landmines, 2,980 detonators, 6800 remote control system, 11 double battery device, 11 walkie-talkies along with batteries, 115 fuse, 3,000 meter detonator cord and 3200 kg potassium (used in explosives).

“Two vehicles were packed with explosive materials were en route to Quetta from Zhob when intercepted by New Kuchlak Police near Bostan Patakh,” Capital City Police Officer Quetta Mir Zubair Mehmood told the reporters.

All seven suspects, three of them Afghan nationals, were arrested and shifted to a police station for questioning.

“The suspects were smuggling explosive materials from Zhob to Quetta, apparently for subversive activities in the provincial capital,” said the official. He added that the suspects were currently being questioned.

The suspects were identified as Mohammad Khan, Rehmat, Rafiullah, Abdul Hakeem, Mira Jan and Hazebullah.