July 4, 2002	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 22,1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

FAISALABAD, July 3: On the information of American FBI, another crackdown will soon be launched against the activists and leaders of banned militant and jihadi outfits having links with Al-Qaeda.

A well-placed source told Dawn here on Wednesday that final touches were being given to the arrangements of crackdown by special police teams. Raids will be conducted on the information received from some Al-Qaeda members and activists of banned groups who were arrested from various parts of the province during the last couple of months.

He said that district police officers of Faisalabad, Sargodha and Multan had been given special tasks for the arrest of alleged terrorists.

All possible resources, he said, would be employed during the operation against terrorists. He said lists of wanted persons were being finalized by Anti-Terrorist Cells of these three main cities of the province.

Sources claimed the FBI had already informed the police heads of Faisalabad, Sargodha and Multan through the Punjab IGP about the mode and time of operation. But as is now the FBI men have not uncovered the dens of alleged terrorists.

They further gave out that a week ago, a senior FBI officer had visited Faisalabad and held meetings with top ranking police officials and personnel of secret agencies. He also exchanged information about the presence of alleged terrorists in Faisalabad and its adjoining areas.

Another source said the FBI agent was of the view that despite the arrest of top Al-Qaeda leadership from Faisalabad during a crackdown in March this year, there was a dire need to conduct another operation against terrorists.

Meanwhile, local offices of newspapers received a “press statement” from some unknown leader or worker of the banned SSP on Wednesday in which top brass had been threatened with dire consequences for arresting its workers and leaders.

The statement also threatened that the SSP would commit terrorist activities in the country under a planned move. The statement was said to be circulated late Tuesday night as it was found in the offices on Wednesday morning.

ARRESTED: Gulberg police claim to have arrested three gangsters and recovered looted valuables from their possession here on Wednesday.

Acting on a tip, the SHO raided a den of alleged bandits and arrested Nadeem, Tariq and Shaukat when they were distributing looted valuables. Police also recovered ornaments, wristwatches, electric appliances and other valuables from their hideout. The arrested outlaws made a clean breast of committing over a dozen dacoities during initial interrogation.

COMMITS SUICIDE: Father of four children committed suicide by taking poison due to financial problems at Chak 126-RB here on Wednesday.

Qasim Ali died while being taken to a local hospital. Police have sent the body to Allied Hospital for autopsy.

Meanwhile, another youth, Khalid Latif of Al-Fayyaz Colony, took poison due to some domestic dispute. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where his condition was stated to be out of danger.