Two militants, as many Iraqi suspects held in two days
By Asif Shahzad
LAHORE, Aug 11: Police and intelligence agents have arrested two Harkat Jehad-i-Islami Al-Almi militant and as many Iraqi nationals as part of the ongoing swoop on terror network in Punjab in the last two days.
Identified as Arshad alias Sikandar, the militant, a resident of Sanghar, Sindh, was held in a village in Sialkot. "We captured him in a raid on a rented house," Sialkot DPO Nisar Saroya told Dawn by phone on Wednesday. Two of his accomplices, Zakaullah alias Osama and Shakil Khan, beat a retreat, he said.
An intelligence agent participated in the operation said the militant was a close aide of Qari Saifullah, who had been handed over to Pakistan after his arrest in Dubai. Saifullah was alleged to have been working for Al-Qaeda network and had allegedly been involved in the second assassination attempt on president Musharraf, he said.
Meanwhile, DPO Saroya said that 12 rockets, three launchers, two AK-47 assault rifles, three pistols and 400 bullets were seized from Arshad. He, however, did not disclose any information related to the plans of the latest arrested accused, especially with reference to the weapon seizure.
"I can't comment on it until investigation are completed." He said that Zakaullah was more important man. "We are close to him and we will get him soon."
The other militant, initially identified as Atif, was picked up from the outskirts of Lahore on Wednesday night, the intelligence source said. However, there was no official word on it till late at night. Identified as Muhammad Suleman (40) and Salam Mahmood (28), the two Iraqi nationals were arrested by an intelligence agency officials from Shakargarh in Narowal.
Acting Narowal police chief Mirza Azeem told Dawn that the two foreigners did not have any documents with them. The only document they were carrying was a UNHCR certificate which gave them a refugee status. The certificate was, however, valid only for Islamabad, he said. "We have charged them with overstaying and travelling illegally in Pakistan."
