Most wanted terrorist, accomplice apprehended

KARACHI:

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), during a raid, arrested a highly wanted militant linked to 'Fitna al-Khawarij', along with his accomplice.

The arrested suspect, Ismail Swati, son of Tooti Khan, is listed in the department's Red Book of most-wanted terrorists. He was apprehended along with his associate Zahidullah, son of Gul Azam.

Ismail Swati was involved in fundraising for the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In 2023, he allegedly demanded extortion from a man, Abdul Qayyum Qasai, within the limits of Pirabad police station. Upon refusal, Swati—along with his accomplice Abdul Ghani—reportedly murdered Abdul Qayyum Qasai. Abdul Ghani was later killed in a police encounter last year, while Swati had been declared a proclaimed offender by the court in the same case.

CTD officials revealed that the suspect was also wanted in multiple extortion cases in Preedy and Gulshan-e-Memar areas. He is said to be a close associate of Kamal Khan, another arrested militant linked to TTP Swat, who had fled from Karachi to his native area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The CTD police recovered two pistols and 10 rounds of ammunition from the suspects. Separate cases related to possession of illegal weapons have been registered at a CTD police station.

Special teams have been formed to track down the accomplices and facilitators, including target killers believed to be part of the same network.