Intelligence-based raids: Suspected terrorists, including two women, arrested in Hyderabad

Dozens of drums filled with liquid explosives also found

HYDERABAD: The law enforcement agencies reportedly arrested seven suspected terrorists and abettors, including two women, in two separate intelligence-based raids in Hyderabad. Dozens of drums filled with liquid explosives, other explosive material, ball bearings and dozens of automatic weapons were also recovered, mainly from a private water filtration plant run by the suspects.

However, the raids and the arrests were not officially declared. The law enforcers from Karachi led the swoop. The terror suspects were shifted to an undisclosed location, probably in Karachi, said a source.

The sources identified the main suspect as Hafiz Nazeer Ahmed and his son, Jameel Ahmed, who had acquired the property for the plant on rent. The family lived in a rented house in Latifabad No 10 while the plant is located in Latifabad No 4. Afaque owned the plant while a man identified as Dr Irshad dealt with  the tenants for the residential property situated in Latifabad Unit 10 on behalf of the owners who lived in the United States.

The rent agreement of the residence was signed between Dr Irshad and Shakil Ahmed, son of Nazeer.

"The rent agreement [for the plant's property] was signed with Jameel Ahmed in April. They were given the possession on May 1," a family source of the landlord, Afaque, told The Express Tribune.

Afaque, Dr Irshad, and two estate agents, one of them identified as Umair, were handed over to the Hyderabad police's custody. Afaque himself owns a private water plant. "He found a cheaper place on rent for the plant in the same area and moved there and gave away this property to Jameel on rent," said the source.

According to the Sindh Information of Temporary Residents Act, 2015, landlords are required to provide details of their tenants to the relevant police station within 48 hours of handing over the property's possession. The violation is punishable with up to six months in prison and penalty.

The sources claimed, however, that none of the landlords will be booked in the case and that they are expected to be released from detention. "The police only investigated if the two landlords had any links with the arrested terrorists," he said. "It seems their only fault was renting out the property without verification and failing to inform the police about the tenants."

Hyderabad DIG Khadim Hussain Rind and Hyderabad SSP Irfan Baloch could not be contacted for their versions. The DIG replied, however, to a text message confirming that the police will not disclose the identities of the suspects and details of the seized material.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2015.