Three terrorists belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), allegedly plotting attacks on security forces, were arrested in Karachi’s Quaidabad during a joint operation by Sindh Rangers and the Counter Terrorism Department, an official statement said on Tuesday.
“The suspects were planning terror attacks against security forces”, a Rangers spokesperson said in a press release issued today, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com.
The held suspects were identified as Mohammed Javed Swati alias Bhai Jan, Shahid Husain alias Umer, and Akbar Zaib Khan.
The suspects were involved in “terrorism, murders, attempted murders and extortion”, the statement said, adding that arms, ammunition and explosive material were recovered from their custody.
It added that they belonged to the Fitna al Khawarij Swat Group.
In July, the government, through an official notification, designated the TTP as Fitna al Khawarij, while mandating all institutions to use the term khariji (outcast) when referring to the perpetrators of terrorist attacks on Pakistan.
According to the statement, Swati joined the banned group in 2008 and remained “very active” in Swat along with their commander Umer Rehman alias Ustaf Fatih and Bin Yameen. His two brothers namely Shahid and Zahid were killed in the security forces’ operation in Swat.
The suspect, along with his family, was shifted to Karachi after the Swat operation and had been hiding at different places. He was arrested in 2012 in Karachi and remained imprisoned for 14 months, the statement said.
After being released from prison, he was shifted to Gulshan-i-Buner of Landhi while his close aides namely Umer Rehman alias Ustad Fatih, Abdul Rehman alias Shahzad, Habibullah alias Muwavia migrated to the Kunar area of Afghanistan.
He was in touch with his close aides in Afghanistan through WhatsApp and was working as a ‘facilitator’ for his accomplices in Afghanistan, the statement said.
Two other suspects, Shahid Husain alias Umer and Akbar Zeb Khan joined the group named ‘Gulbai Islam’ in 2010, while they joined the Swat group in 2014. They had training in militancy and visited Afghanistan several times.
“The held suspects were involved in several incidents of extortions, killings and attempted murders in Karachi,” the Rangers said.
The said suspects along with their accomplices namely Zakaria alias Inamullah, Rafiullah alias Taxi Wala and Adnan Hazaray Wala had given extortion chits to several traders and also extracted extortion from them.
They had demanded Rs2 million from the president of General Tyre Company, Rs1m from an owner of a general store in Banaras, Rs1m from a water tanker operator in Steel Town, Rs1.5m from an owner of a general store in Banaras, Rs300,000 from a fruit supplier in Banaras and Rs200,000 from a property dealer.
They had also demanded Rs5m from a trader Abdul Ghaffar in Quaidabad and threatened him with dire consequences, of which a first information report (FIR) was registered.
The held suspect Akbar Zaib Khan along with his accomplice Inamullah had shot dead a retired head constable Fazal Zada and injured Syed Afreen over suspicions of being ‘informers’ near Landhi, whose FIR was registered at Quaidabad police station.
“The held suspects were planning terrorism against security forces,” the Rangers statement said.
2 terrorists killed in joint operation in Punjab
Meanwhile, Punjab police killed two terrorists in a joint operation between the Punjab CTD and Dera Ghazi Khan police, a spokesperson for the Punjab police said in a statement on Tuesday.
The operation took place in Kotani Tal, a remote area of Thana Vahowa.
“Terrorists launched an attack on police forces using hand grenades and heavy weapons, but were met with a resolute response,” the statement said.
Police were on high alert in the wake of recent reports of terrorist movement near the Punjab-KP border.
The operation was led under the command of Regional Police Officer (RPO) DG Khan Captain (R) Sajjad Hassan Khan. Upon receiving the report, District Police Officer (DPO) DG Khan Syed Ali immediately reached the spot to oversee the situation.
The terrorists were reportedly planning attacks on police stations and sensitive sites in Punjab. Acting on intelligence, Station House Officer Vahowa along with police and CTD teams pursued the suspects. Upon being intercepted, the terrorists opened fire, using rockets, grenades, and heavy weapons.
“Despite the intensity of the attack, Punjab police teams, including the Elite Force and backup units, responded courageously and did not allow the terrorists to escape. As a result, two terrorists were killed on the spot,” the statement added.
Modern weapons, including rocket launchers, hand grenades, and other heavy arms, were recovered from the terrorists.
Punjab Inspector General of Police (IG) Punjab Dr Usman Anwar congratulated CTD and DG Khan Police for neutralizing the terrorists. Following the operation, Police, CTD, and Elite Force teams launched search and sweep operations in the border areas to eliminate any remaining threats.
The successful action underscores the readiness and bravery of Punjab Police in combating terrorism, ensuring the safety of the province.
In October, the Sindh CTD arrested three alleged terrorists from TTP in Karachi’s Sohrab Goth.
Earlier in June, TTP claimed responsibility for firing at the police in Sohrab Goth, which killed Police Constable (PC) Muhammad Yasin and injured PC Salman Abbas.
Meanwhile, Punjab CTD arrested seven terrorists in October during 129 intelligence-based operations.
Pakistan has experienced an increase in terrorist attacks as a total of 59 such incidents occurred countrywide in August compared to 38 attacks in the previous month, according to a digital database maintained by the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), an Islamabad-based think-tank.
