Intelligence report: Terrorists plot attacks on police to free accomplices

Punjab police chief orders extra security at prisons in Bahawalpur, Multan and Khanewal.

LAHORE:

Terrorists from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – the outlawed conglomerate of militant groups – are plotting jailbreaks and attacks on police to free their accomplices from police custody in Bahawalpur district of Punjab.

According to a classified intelligence report, the terrorists could attack the Bahawalpur Central Jail or police parties escorting some high-profile terrorists to anti-terrorism courts (ATCs) for hearings.

The Bahawalpur Central Jail hosts some senior militants from the TTP, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) who were allegedly involved in an attack on a building of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), The Express Tribune has learnt.

Also four “TTP terrorists” were recently shifted to the Bahawalpur Central Jail from Multan prison. They are: Abdul Rahim, alias Talha; Muhammad Afzal, alias Qari Muhammad Din; Suleman, alias Amjad, and Sajjad. The authorities have put in place additional security at the Bahawalpur jail following reports of possible terrorist attacks. Another 40 policemen have been deputed at the jail.

The Bahawalpur Central Jail is considered as the most sensitive jail because some high-profile terrorists from the TTP and other extremist groups. The jail administration has also received threats from extremist groups.

According to another classified report, seven under-trail prisoners, including Saleem, Mufti Munawar and Bilal, who belong to the TTP, SSP and LeJ are also imprisoned in this jail.

In view of the threats, the Punjab police chief has said that currently 14 terrorists involved in high-profile cases of terrorism are being tried in ATCs in Bahawalpur, Khanewal and Multan.

In an official circular to the district police officers, the Punjab police chief further said that militants could attack police while the terrorists are being ferried to ATCs for court hearings in an attempt to free their accomplices. He directed the DPOs to put in place fool-proof security while the terrorists are taken to courts for hearing of their cases.



Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2011.