Rangers, CTD arrest eight suspects during separate raids in Karachi

Accused include alleged street criminals and an AQIS militant

KARACHI: The paramilitary force and counter-terrorism department (CTD) of the Sindh police claimed on Monday to have arrested at least eight suspected criminals, including a hardcore militant of a banned militant outfit.

The suspects were arrested during raids and operations in separate parts of the metropolis. They were accused of being involved in various cases of crime and terrorism activities, including targeted killings, wall-chalking, extortion, robberies, terrorism and facilitating terrorism.



According to the Rangers spokesperson, the suspects were identified as Saeedul Hassan alias China, Syed Omar Aijaz alias Omar alias Maaz alias Musab, Saleem alias Chosni, Furqan alias Shooter, Abu Bakar, Ibrahim alias Hyderi, Sikandar and Asif Pathan.

Hassan and Aijaz were taken into custody during raids in the Jackson and Civil Lines areas. The Rangers spokesperson claimed that the accused persons were affiliated with alQaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), adding that the suspects were allegedly involved in attacks on the police and Rangers check posts in Nazimabad and Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

Interestingly, the arrest of alleged AQIS militant Aijaz was also declared by the CTD police. According to CTD Incharge Mazhar Mashwani, the accused was arrested during a raid conducted on a tip-off in Garden area. Mashwani also claimed to have recovered a hand grenade and pistol from his possession. The CTD incharge added that the suspect's two accomplices, Abdul Saboor and Mujtaba, were killed during an encounter with the CTD last year.



When contacted over the claims of Aijaz's arrest both by the Rangers and the CTD, Mashwani said the accused was arrested in a joint venture by Rangers and the CTD. However, Rangers spokesperson said the arrest was made following the intelligence-based information.

Another suspect, Saleem, is said to be affiliated with the militant wing of a political party and has been involved in various cases of extortion and wall-chalking. Two other accused, Furqan and Abu Bakar, were arrested from Nazimabad and Pak Colony areas. They were allegedly involved in targeted killings and extortion activities.

The accused Ibrahim and Sikandar were allegedly involved in motorcycle theft and mobile phone snatching. They were apprehended during a raid in Nazimabad, while Asif was arrested from Lyari, who is suspected to be involved in various cases of crime. According to the Rangers spokesperson, arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession.