Extremist ties: CTD arrests alleged TTP terrorist

Suspect is said to be a close aide of former TTP leader Baituallah Mehsud

HYDERABAD: A terrorist said to be a close aide of slain Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Baituallah Mehsud was arrested during a joint raid by the Rangers and counter-terrorism department (CTD) from Kotri, Jamshoro district.

At a press conference in Hyderabad on Wednesday, CTD Karachi SSP Amir Farooq identified the detained terrorist as Meharban, son of Badshah Deen. He hails from Waziristan and his name is mentioned in the 'red book', a record of wanted terrorists in Pakistan.





"The police arrested five suspects belonging to a banned organisation from Karachi after an encounter on January 4 and led us to this man," he said, adding that the suspect used to supply weapons and provide financial support to terrorists.

"He was involved in a 2008 bank robbery in Karachi in which Rs150 million were stolen," he explained. According to Farooq, the looted money was handed over to the slain TTP chief. The robbery was committed in the limits of Preedy police station.

The SSP refused, however, to disclose the place where Meharban was arrested from, saying the CTD hoped to capture more terrorists linked with Meharban. He claimed that the alleged terrorist admitted to his involvement with extremist elements and activities.

SSP Karamullah Soomro of CTD Hyderabad and Rangers Col Sibtain Hassan were also part of the raid. The officials said that they were also looking into his connection with the terrorists responsible for the Safoora Goth incident. Tahir Hussain Minhas, one of the top suspects allegedly involved in the incident, also lived in Kotri.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2016.