Two suicide bombers planning to target Fazl and Aimal arrested

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Friday apprehended two suicide bombers trained in Afghanistan by the global terrorist organisation Da’ish who were planning attacks on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Awami National Party (ANP) leader Aimal Wali Khan, Express News reported.

Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, SSP CTD Najamul Hasnain Liaquat said that a suicide bomber and his facilitator were arrested during an intelligence-based operation in Peshawar. Upon their identification, he added, two suicide jackets, three hand grenades, and a pistol were recovered.

Liaquat said that the recovered explosives were rendered harmless by the bomb disposal unit. He said that the arrested terrorists confessed during preliminary investigations to planning suicide attacks on Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Aimal Wali Khan.

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The CTD official said that the arrested terrorists confessed to surveilling Mufti Mehmood Markaz, the JUI-F’s provincial headquarters.

He confirmed that the arrested terrorists are affiliated with Dai’sh Khorasan and received training for suicide attacks in Paktia, Afghanistan.

In recent months, the country has experienced a rise in terrorist activities, particularly in K-P and Balochistan, following the termination of the ceasefire between the government and the proscribed militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in November 2022.

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On December 31, the convoy of Maulana Fazlur Rehman was targeted in a brazen attack at the Yarik Interchange in Dera Ismail Khan. The assailants opened fire on the convoy, aiming from two sides, according to preliminary information.

Fortunately, all individuals, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, emerged unharmed from the attack.

As per CTD, 560 acts of terrorism were reported in the tribal areas of K-P in 2023.

Data obtained from the CTD showed that there have been 209 attacks on security personnel in 2023 compared to 124 in 2022; 243 attacks on police compared to 118 in 2022; 167 policemen and officers have attained martyrdom in terrorist attacks in 2023, compared to 83 in 2022; and 101 soldiers and officers have attained martyrdom last year, compared to 96 in the year before last.