Four suspected terrorists arrested

Nabbed suspects allegedly belong to BLA, SRA

KARACHI:

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), in collaboration with the federal and civilian intelligence agencies, has arrested four suspected militants affiliated with two banned organisations in separate operations in the metropolis, and recovered four hand grenades and a pistol from their possession, officials said.

According to a CTD spokesperson, three of the suspects were affiliated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), while the fourth belonged to the banned Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA).

The CTD and a federal intelligence agency had received information that trained BLA militants were present in the city on the instructions of their commander. The suspects were allegedly involved in targeted killings and attacks on Frontier Corps and Customs mobile units in Balochistan.

Acting on the information, a joint team raided a public park on Abul Hasan Isphahani Road, where the suspects had reportedly gathered to prepare for an operation. The three arrested suspects were identified as Ghulam Yasin, son of Rais Wazir; Aftab Ahmed, son of Ghulam Mustafa; and Shoaib, son of Abdul Hai.

Preliminary investigations suggested that the suspects were allegedly planning to use hand grenades to attack sensitive locations and an office of a law enforcement agency in Karachi.

In a separate operation, the joint team arrested an alleged SRA militant near the Korangi Causeway stream. He was identified as Asif Ali, alias Asif Sindhi, son of Ashiq Ali Chachar. A hand grenade was recovered from his possession.

During preliminary interrogation, the suspect allegedly disclosed that he had conducted reconnaissance of a foreign national, a police deputy superintendent (DSP), a railway track and the residence of a prominent political figure. He also allegedly admitted to planning attacks on law enforcement offices in Karachi on the instructions of his organisational commander.