CTD says two TTP facilitators arrested in Karachi

The Sindh Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) said it had arrested two facilitators who were allegedly funding the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from Karachi.

The CTD spokesperson said on Saturday that the arrested individuals have been identified as Hasan Gul Mehsud and Bashir Ahmed and that they were arrested during an operation carried out in Sohrab Goth area of the city.

He added that both had been previously notified under the 4th Schedule by the Sindh government for facilitating terrorists.

Any individual about whom either there is credible intelligence information or who has a history of being linked to a proscribed organisation can be proscribed by home department of a province and can be subjected to restrictions on travel, speech and business, under the Anti Terrorism Act, 1997.

After issuance notification by the home department, name of such proscribed person is included in the 4th Schedule. Such proscribed persons are then referred to in local police parlance as 4th Schedulers.

A significant amount of funds intended for terrorism was also recovered from the detainees, according to the CTD official.

He added that the accused had used part of the funds to purchase two modern 9mm pistols after receiving instructions from TTP leadership. The weapons were recovered after their location was indeitied by the suspects.

The spokesperson added that the suspects were operating an illegal truck stand in the Gulzar Hijri area, the proceeds from which were being used to financially support TTP terrorists.

Cases related to terror funding and illegal arms have been registered against the accused at the CTD Karachi police station.