TTP, al Qaeda militants arrested in Karachi, weapons recovered

LEA personnel act on information provided by ‘sensitive federal institution’

KARACHI:

The law enforcement agencies on Sunday claimed to have arrested two militants belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

According to a statement issued by the Counter Terrorism Department, on a tip-off provided by a “sensitive federal institution”, it arrested a suspect Muhammad Shah alias Ding alias Talha alias Muhammad Ali from Khattak Chowk and recovered weapons.

The held suspect belonged to the outlawed TTP, the CTD statement said.

“He was planning to activate the TTP network in Karachi,” the spokesperson added.

The suspect belonged to the TTP’s Tarig Gedar group.

The held militant along with his accomplices had attacked a Frontier Corps post in Azakhail with rocket launchers. On July 17, the suspect along with his accomplices attacked policemen in Shaikhan Nala Chowk in Matna in which two policemen were martyred.

“The captured militant was also involved in extorting several people in Dara Adam Khel,” police said, adding that the Peshawar CTD had been informed about his arrest.

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Separately, the District Central Police said the LEA personnel in collaboration with federal sensitive institutions conducted an operation in the Liaquatabad locality and arrested a suspect, Sohaib Tariq alias Usman, allegedly linked with the AQIS.

During interrogation, the suspect revealed that through a man named Talha, he allegedly came in touch with AQIS camp in charge in Afghanistan’s Bramcha in 2019, the statement said.

Later, he went to Afghanistan where he allegedly got one-month military training in the said camp.

He also met with two Indian citizens, namely Abdul Rehman and Taha, who were also linked with AQIS and living in Bramcha, the statement said.

After receiving training, he remained in touch with the AQIS leadership in Afghanistan and subsequently, he became associated with the media section of the banned group.

His other accomplices, namely Mohammed alias Arman, Abu Urwa and Abdul Manan, had already been arrested, which prompted him to go underground in Karachi.

Officials claimed to have recovered one pistol, one hand grenade, three cell phones and some cash from the suspect’s custody. Police also registered a case against him and started investigation.