A major terrorist plot was foiled in Kohat as two serving officials of the police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) were arrested for allegedly facilitating the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Kohat police and the CTD carried out a joint operation and arrested two key suspects allegedly linked with the TTP. Addressing a press conference at Kohat Police Club, Regional Police Officer Abbas Majid Marwat, flanked by DPO Dr Zahidullah and SP CTD Saadat Khan, revealed that the arrested suspects were not only facilitators of the banned outfit but also serving employees of security agencies.
The RPO disclosed that one of the accused, Siraj, was a constable in the District Police, while the other, Firdoun, was serving as a CTD personnel. During interrogation, both confessed to plotting terrorist attacks, including targeting senior police officers during Muharram, carrying out bomb blasts at the Police Lines mosque, CTD police station, and other government buildings, as well as attacking Muharram processions.
The suspects have been remanded in police custody for 15 days for further investigation. Authorities said the arrested men have admitted to their crimes, and a large-scale operation is underway to trace their network and other facilitators. Officials added that the timely action by police and CTD averted a major tragedy.
Meanwhile, four alleged outlaws were killed in an exchange of fire with Pizo police in Lakki Marwat district on Monday.
According to police, they received information that a group of armed bandits was present on the Dera Ismail Khan Highway, planning to commit a robbery. Acting swiftly, a police team rushed to the spot and found the suspects attempting to loot a truck.
On seeing the police, the dacoits opened indiscriminate fire. The police retaliated in self-defence, triggering a fierce gun battle. After the firing subsided, a search operation was launched in the area, during which four suspects were found dead. They were identified as Shah Zeb, Qayyum, Shahid Rehman, and Usama.
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