Counter-terrorism department undergoes name changes

All four units working under the counter terrorism department have been renamed

KARACHI: After the Crime Investigation Department was renamed the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), all four units working under the CTD have also been retitled and will now function under the newly-established top counter-terrorism body in the country - the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta).

Until now, four units - the Counter Terrorism and Financial Crime Unit (CTFCU), Interrogation and Analysis Unit, Sectarian Intelligence Unit and Anti-Extremists Cell - were working under the CTD. They have now been renamed. The CTFCU will now be known as the Transnational Terrorists Intelligence Group (TTIG) and will be led by Raja Omar Khattab. Similarly, the Sectarian Intelligence Unit (SIU) has now been renamed the Armed Militants Intelligence Group (AMIG) and Khurram Waris will be the in-charge of this group.

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The Anti-Extremist Cell has been renamed Sectarian Intelligence Group (SIG) and Ali Raza will be the in-charge of this cell, while the Interrogation and Analysis Unit has been renamed Pakistan-Based Terrorists Intelligence Group (PBTIG) and will be headed by Mazhar Mashwani.



"These names will help these departments get recognised internationally for their work," said Khurram Waris, while speaking to The Express Tribune. The officers said that their work will remain the same. "Only the names have been changed. The cells are headed by the same officers and they will continue to work against terrorism," explained Mashwani.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2015.