‘TTP terrorist’ held in Orangi Town raid

CTD officials say suspect confessed to involvement in targeted killings of policemen

KARACHI:

The Counter Terrorism Department's (CTD's) investigation wing has claimed to have arrested a suspected member of banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) during a joint operation with the personnel of a federal law enforcement agency in Orangi Town on Friday night.

According to CTD officials, the suspect was identified as Muhammad Omar and a huge cache of weapons was seized from him.

CTD Investigation SP Naeem Ahmed said Omar had been involved in multiple incidents of terrorism and had gone into hiding. While in hiding, he remained in touch with TTP leader Mufti Shakir, the SP said, adding that Omar returned to Pakistan few days ago on Shakir's instructions.

According to SP Ahmed, Omar revealed during interrogation that Shakir was hiding in one of Pakistan's neighbouring countries, from where he orchestrated terror attacks here.

He confessed to delivering arms for terror attacks orchestrated by Shakir, the SP said, adding that he also admitted his involvement in the targeted killings of policemen in West district and those of other law enforcement personnel.

Omar named Qari Jan and Qari Ilyas for abetting the target killings on the instructions of Shakir, said SP Ahmed.

Moreover, the SP said, Omar had revealed the that attack on SSP Chaudhry Aslam, who was killed on Lyari Expressway on January 9, 2014, was planned in the presence of Shakir and others including Naeem Bukhari.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2021.