Terror scheme foiled: Two accomplices of TTP chief held in Gujrat
Explosives gathered for terror attacks in Muharram seized.
LAHORE:
Police foiled a major terror bid during the month of Muharram and arrested two key members of Hakimullah Mehsud-led Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from Gujrat, Punjab, on Friday.
The arrested pair — a man and his son — are part of a larger group of seven criminals wanted for the August attack on the Pakistan Air Force base in Kamra, the July attack on the arms force camp on the Chenab Bridge and the March attack on policemen in the Khatala Phatak region of Gujrat, said IG Punjab Police Haji Habibur Rehman. TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan, in a statement after the Kamra attack, had warned that terror strikes would continue.
The group had gathered a huge quantity of arms and explosives for massive terrorist attacks in Gujrat and other parts of Punjab during the holy month of Muharram, the IG police said. The militants were hiding the material in a house situated in the Mauza Sagr area which fell under the jurisdiction of Tanda police station in Gujrat district.
The arrested pair — Shafiq and Abdul Rehman — belong to the TTP faction reporting to Hakimullah Mehsud. IG Rehman added that one member of the group of seven had been killed as they attacked the Kamra base.
Two separate cases have been registered against this group of seven terrorists at Tanda police station in Gujarat. The IG hoped to arrest the five remaining members of the group, whom they have already identified.
Interrogation
During the interrogation, the suspected terrorists said that in the absence of a true Islamic government in Pakistan, it was important for them to be ‘true Muslims’ and target the police, politicians and armed forces who are a part of this ‘un-Islamic’ government. While talking to The Express Tribune, sources privy to the interrogation said that the arrested terrorists said that the ‘Jihad’ would continue till an ‘Islamic government’ was in place.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2012.
Police foiled a major terror bid during the month of Muharram and arrested two key members of Hakimullah Mehsud-led Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from Gujrat, Punjab, on Friday.
The arrested pair — a man and his son — are part of a larger group of seven criminals wanted for the August attack on the Pakistan Air Force base in Kamra, the July attack on the arms force camp on the Chenab Bridge and the March attack on policemen in the Khatala Phatak region of Gujrat, said IG Punjab Police Haji Habibur Rehman. TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan, in a statement after the Kamra attack, had warned that terror strikes would continue.
The group had gathered a huge quantity of arms and explosives for massive terrorist attacks in Gujrat and other parts of Punjab during the holy month of Muharram, the IG police said. The militants were hiding the material in a house situated in the Mauza Sagr area which fell under the jurisdiction of Tanda police station in Gujrat district.
The arrested pair — Shafiq and Abdul Rehman — belong to the TTP faction reporting to Hakimullah Mehsud. IG Rehman added that one member of the group of seven had been killed as they attacked the Kamra base.
Two separate cases have been registered against this group of seven terrorists at Tanda police station in Gujarat. The IG hoped to arrest the five remaining members of the group, whom they have already identified.
Interrogation
During the interrogation, the suspected terrorists said that in the absence of a true Islamic government in Pakistan, it was important for them to be ‘true Muslims’ and target the police, politicians and armed forces who are a part of this ‘un-Islamic’ government. While talking to The Express Tribune, sources privy to the interrogation said that the arrested terrorists said that the ‘Jihad’ would continue till an ‘Islamic government’ was in place.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2012.