CTD operation: Jaish activist sent on remand

RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday ordered the 10-day physical remand of an alleged member of a banned militant outfit. In a raid, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested Amjad Hussain, an activist of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad (JEM). Sources said a huge amount of explosives, detonators and hate literature was recovered from the suspect’s possession. Hussain was produced in court by CTD officials on Tuesday after which his remand was approved till October 30. Authorities believe the suspect was planning to carry out violent activities during Muharram. JEM was formed by Maulana Masood Azhar in 2000, after he was released from an Indian jail following the hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight in 1999. The group was banned along with several others in 2002 by Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s government. The group is believed to be active in Indian Kashmir.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2015.