CIA arrest TTP commander from Lahore

The arrested suspect had allegedly kidnapped Colonel Imam and squadron leader (retd) Khalid Khawaja

LAHORE: The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) on Thursday claimed to have arrested a member of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and commander of Harkatul Mujahideen, who had allegedly kidnapped Colonel Imam, a retired officer of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and squadron leader (retd) Khalid Khawaja.

The suspect was identified as Hafiz Sanaullah alias Qari Zarar by the CIA.

Terming the arrest a major breakthrough, a police official said the CIA team arrested him from Lorry Adda, Lahore on a tip off, adding that during interrogation Sanaullah had made startling revelations.

He was allegedly involved in a number of kidnapping-for-ransom cases in Lahore and Rawalpindi, adding that he often hurled hand grenades and other sophisticated weapons to pursue his criminal activities.

In 2009, Sanaullah said, he in connivance of Punjabi Taliban kidnapped Col Imam, Col Khalid Khawaja, a journalist Asad Qureshi and his employee. The three were taken to Waziristan, where he slayed Col Imam and Khalid Khawaja. Qureshi and his employee were later released after ransom payment of Rs14 million from their families.

Quoting the suspect, the police official added that he had even abducted a citizen from Islamabad in 2008, who was later set free after collecting Rs27 million from his family.

Further, in 2001, Sanaullah had abducted two officials of a security agency from Balochistan.

According to police, Sanaullah who hails from Dera Ismail Khan had received militant training from Waziristan and Afghanistan.

In 1998, he was made the Nazim of Harkatul Mujahideen and then commander in 2000.

He had also been Nazim of central office of the banned organisation in Golra Sharif in 2005, and a close aide to its Amir.