The mastermind of the Johar Town bombing in 2021 and a facilitator were arrested during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan.
This was disclosed by Punjab CTD DIG Afzaal Ahmed Kausar and DIG Operations Punjab, Kamran Adil, during a press conference held at Central Police Office (CPO) on Thursday.
Kausar said the CTD special teams arrested Samiul Haq, mastermind of Johar Town Lahore blast and his facilitator Uzair Akbar from Balochistan after an intelligence-based operation.
Explaining the details, he said that CTD Lahore operations and intelligence teams left for Balochistan on a special intelligence report and arrested the alleged terrorists on April 24, detaining Haq and Uzair at Kundi check post RCD High near Quetta.
The terrorists were reportedly returning to Pakistan after crossing the border into Balochistan.
Iranian currency, Emirati dirhams, Turkish lira and Afghan and Pakistani currency were recovered from the arrested terrorists, said Kausar.
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Laptops and other electronic devices used by the alleged terrorists were also seized.
Kausar further said that are illiciting intelligence from arrested terrorists to uncover potential plots. He also did not rule out the possible involvement of foreign actors in the planning of the incident. Kausar added that a third fugitive, Muhammad Naveed Akhtar Khan, will be arrested soon.
The blast occurred on June 23rd 2021 in Johar Town Lahore, where a car bomb was detonated, killing 3 people and injuring 21 others.
The blast itself occurred near the residence of Hafiz Saeed, the leader of the banned organisation, Jamaat-ud-Dawwa. Four suspects, identified as Peter Paul David, Eid Gul Khan, Ziaullah and Sajjad Hussain, were sentenced to death on January 12 for carrying out the attack, while Eid Gul’s wife, Ayesha, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for her role.
Samiul Haq, Uzair Akbar and foreign elements reportedly called the executor of the blast, Eid Gul Khan, to Dubai on a visit visa and held a meeting with him. One week later, Khan came to Pakistan with a briefing on the attack and a large cache of funds.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2022.
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