Terror outfit sleeper cell identified in Sukkur

CM Murad orders increase in checkpoints across Sindh-Balochistan border to stop infiltration of 'militants'

KARACHI: The law enforcement agencies in Sindh have identified a terror outfit’s sleeper cell in Sukkur.

The development came to light during a meeting on law and order situation of the province at the Chief Minister’s House in Karachi on Wednesday. Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Sindh IG Kaleem Imam, Home Secretary Kazi Kabir, Additional IG Karachi Ameer Sheikh also attended the meeting.

In his briefing, DIG Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) informed CM Murad Ali Shah that the force was vigilantly monitoring movement at the Sindh-Balochistan border. He said some militant elements had established hideouts in the province. “They will be taken to task with the help of intelligence agencies,” he added.

The police sources claim militants operating from Balochistan penetrated Sindh to carry out the attack. They said the 2015 Jacobabad attack and the blast at an Imambargah in Shikarpur were planned in Balochistan.

CM Murad directed officials to increase the number of checkpoints across the Sindh-Balochistan border and coordinate with Frontier Corps Constabulary and IG Balochistan to stop infiltration of militants.

During the meeting, CM Murad took notice of a target killing incident that occurred in Karachi’s PECHS Society on Tuesday. AIG Sheikh said the initial investigation hinted at personal enmity as a motive.

The deputy inspector generals of each region presented the progress report on street crime, extortion and kidnapping. DIG Sukkur said three kidnapped people were recently recovered. “Only one businessman is still in captivity,” he added. The chief minister, annoyed, reminded the police officials that the matter had been dragging for a month and a half.

Matters concerning fake and fancy number plate was also discussed in the meeting. CM Murad directed the DIGs to hold meetings with administrations of schools, colleges and universities to combat the growing trend of drug abuse in educational institutes.

In their briefing on the Chinese Consulate attack, the CTD officials said another five suspected were arrested.