Streamlining: With top cop’s departure, two terrorism-fighting cells merge

CTU chief SSP Omar Shahid going on a long leave, AEC chief to take over.

KARACHI:

Two of the province’s key counter-terrorism units are being merged after the chief of one body has decided to go on long leave and there aren’t any takers for his post.

That officer is Omar Shahid, who runs the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU). “I am going on a long leave [from June 10],” SSP Shahid told The Express Tribune. “Now, Chaudhry Aslam would lead the [merged] cell.” Thus, the CTU will merge with the Anti-Extremist Cell (AEC), run by Aslam, as the officials cannot find a replacement for Shahid just yet.

History

The first body to be set up was the AEC nearly two years ago at the Garden police headquarters. SP Arshad Kamal Kiyani was put in charge. The cell was working under the Special Branch under Kiyani but after he was transferred, it was placed under the command of the city police and became an offshoot of the CID.

SSP Omar Shahid took over the AEC in February 2 last year. A few months later, in July, a new body, the Counter Terrorism Unit was set up with SSP Chaudhry Aslam in charge. Later, Khan and Shahid replaced each other as the chiefs of the two cells.

Both cells worked well together with good coordination. The idea of merging them was floated earlier on but as decision makers realised that pursuing this would mean removing one chief or the other, it was dropped.

Now, with Shahid going abroad, the merger can take place. But the CTU officials think this would adversely affect counter-terrorism strategies. “We need more officers like SSP Omar Shahid, not them leaving,” said an officer, requesting anonymity. “This is bound to have an effect on the cell.”

He clarified that the unit’s members have no objection to working under the supervision of one officer, but given the law and order situation in the entire country, especially Karachi, more officers and cells are needed and unfortunately, no one is ready to take charge of the CTU. Over 150 officials are working at CID, Garden, supplied with armoured personnel carriers, police mobiles, motorcycles and sophisticated arms and ammunition.

AEC chief Chaudhry Aslam told The Express Tribune that no transfers would be taking place from the CTU as all of them were already working for both units.

“We had great coordination with Omar and we did great work together. We busted several groups,” he commented.

In joint raids, both cells arrested several men accused of being involved in terrorist activities, target killings, gang wars, arms and ammunitions smuggling, robberies, murders and kidnapping for ransom.

Officially they arrested nearly 55 alleged Taliban members, around 12 Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan ‘terrorists’, one alleged member of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen Al-alami, two Sipah-e-Mohammad Pakistan activists, 15 gangsters, over 70 dacoits and four arms, ammunition and narcotics dealers.

Four gangs were caught red-handed. “We also arrested Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan Karachi Ameer Akhtar Zaman,” said SSP Chaudhry Aslam. “We also arrested Ajmal Pahari for killing over 100 people along with a TTP worker who indoctrinated children and young men, training them for suicide bombing. A young man was also found when he was arrested.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2011.