CTD arrests suspected terrorist of banned outfit

Arms and ammunition including hand grenades recovered

KARACHI:

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Sindh Police has arrested a suspected terrorist belonging to the banned sectarian organisation Lashkar-e-Jhangvi during a raid in the Petal Para area. Arms and ammunition, including hand grenades, were also seized in the operation.

CTD officials identified the arrested suspect as Hafiz Qasim Rashid, also known as Bilal and Ganja, son of Muhammad Abdul Rashid. The officials claimed that Hafiz Qasim was the linchpin of a Lashkar-e-Jhnagvi cell.

The officials claimed that the Hafiz Qasim-led cell had carried out several violent attacks, including the target killings of Amjad Sabri, four Ranger personnel, four army personnel, and four Shia community members in the Saddar area. The cell operated through individuals identified as Asim Kapri and Ishaq Bobby.

Hafiz Qasim, also known as MPA Raza Haider, had previously been jailed in various terrorism-related cases. He was recently released from the jail. Along with his associates, Waseem Baroodi, Abdullah, Danish, Hafiz Akhlaq, Pervaz, Qari Inayat, and Abdullah Ilyas Taimuri, they were actively involved in recruiting and mobilising terrorists for further attacks.

During preliminary interrogation, Hafiz Qasim reportedly confessed to his involvement in several murders, including that of Assistant Superintendent Jail Pir Masood Ahmed and Deputy Superintendent Jail Abdul Razzaq Abbasi.

The CTD officials have filed a case against Hafiz Qasim and launched an investigation.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2023.