Pre-election attacks: CID cell arrests TTP members for bomb blasts

Suspects involved in bomb attacks on MQM, claims CID.

KARACHI:

Two alleged members of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban have been arrested for their involvement in the bomb attacks on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, claimed the Anti-Extremist Cell of the Crime Investigation Department on Saturday.

Ghulam Ishaq Mehsud and Nazrab Khan, who were arrested during a raid conducted in Manghopir, reportedly belong to TTP’s Hakeemullah Mehsud group and were associated with the group’s leader in Karachi, Sher Khan.

According to SP Chaudhry Aslam, the accused were involved in three bomb attacks on the MQM during the election campaign in Karachi - the first blast was carried out near the party’s election office in Peoples Chowrangi that claimed three lives and wounded 18 people and two consecutive blasts took place near the MQM’s election office in Qasba Colony that killed two people and wounded 37. The third incident was the bomb blast at the party office in Azizabad that claimed three lives and wounded 23 people.

SP Aslam said that all the bomb blasts were carried out on the directives of Sher Khan, adding Ghulam Ishaq Mehsud was a close aide to Sher Khan.

Officials claimed to have found 200 kilogrammes of explosive material, detonating wire, detonators, nut bolts, ball bearings, two Kalashnikovs and ammunitions.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2013.