4 suspected al Qaeda terrorists arrested

AQIS operatives conducted recce of courts, spy agencies, stock exchange

KARACHI: Four alleged terrorists belonging to Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) were arrested in a joint operation by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Special Investigation Unit police in Gulistan-e-Johar on Sunday.

The suspects were identified as Muhammad Umar, Muhammad Bilal alias Fida, Muhammad Waseem and Muhammad Amir. Detonators, remote controls, improvised explosive device receivers, hand grenades, Kalashnikovs and other weapons were seized based on their revelations.

According to law enforcement agencies, the terrorists had recently arrived in Karachi after receiving training in Afghanistan. They had reportedly also carried out reconnaissance of the city court, police training centre, intelligence agency offices and the Pakistan Stock Exchange.

The suspects revealed during initial interrogation that they were led by Muhammad Hanif alias Zarrar alias Ayub, who is currently in Afghanistan.

They reportedly claimed that their other accomplices were also hiding in Karachi and they had facilitated them with money, conveyance and shelter.

CIA officials are trying to track down the accomplices.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2020.