Terror bid foiled: Police arrest five sectarian ‘militants’

35 suspects held for living on rent without proper documentation

KARACHI: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed to have foiled a terrorist act on the eve of Eidul Azha in Karachi by busting a gang of militants involved in sectarian violence in the metropolis.

Five members of a sectarian militant outfit, identified as Syed Amir Hussain Rizvi alias Babar, Zianul Abideen alias Sunny, Faizyab Ali alias Sheraz, Syed Mohsin Hussain alias Talha alias Pagal and Syed Abbas alias Ashar alias Hamza, were arrested by the CTD's investigation wing.

DIG Arif Hanif, while addressing a press conference at his office on Monday, said the arrested militants were involved in sectarian violence in the city.

"Besides, they had been involved in various cases of sectarian violence and had completed their homework to carry out targeted killings of religious scholars, leaders and doctors belonging to the rival sect," Hanif claimed. "They had planned to attack their newly selected targets on the eve of Eidul Azha," he added.

"We were able to trace and arrest them during the investigation of a recent targeted killing of a religious scholar inside a seminary in Gulistan-e-Jauhar," said CTD SSP Naveed Khawaja.

39 suspects arrested

Separately, the Rangers claimed to have arrested three suspected criminals affiliated with a Lyari gang during raids in Lyari, Keamari and Shah Faisal localities.

The spokesperson of the paramilitary force said arms and ammunition were also seized from their possession.

Meanwhile, law enforcers claim to have apprehended nearly 35 people during an overnight door-to-door search operation in parts of Manghopir.

Manghopir SHO Ghulam Hussain Korai said that the police arrested 35 persons for not having proper rent documents of the houses they were living in during a search operation launched by police against violations of recently issued directives.

The police had issued directives to landlords to keep record of the tenants and not rent their premises to anyone without having received proper documentation.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2016.