January 5, 2006	Thursday	Zilhaj 4, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 4: The Pakistan Rangers have arrested three alleged high profile terrorists of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi from Korangi Industrial Area.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqi at Bhittai Rangers headquarter here on Wednesday, Commandant Bhittai Rangers Col Qamar Abbas Kiyani said the rangers have also recovered a large quantity of explosives, detonators, a kalashnikov and three TT pistols from the accused.

They have been identified as Maqsood Ahmed Qureshi alias Abbass alias Faisal, Azhar-ul-Haq alias Tariq and Nawaz Khan alias Shosha.

He said that Maqsood had allegedly established his own terrorists network and was planning to carry out terrorist activities in Karachi.

According to Colonel Abbas, Maqsood confessed during interrogation that he was one of the closest associates of Riaz Basra, Akram Lahori and Asif Chotoo and had carried out many terrorist activities, while he carried prize money of Rs500,000 on his head.

He also allegedly confessed that he, along with Asif Chotoo, killed Dr Iqtidar in Korangi and injured a dispenser, Asif Raza, in 1997, while in the same year, he killed one Aflatoon at Lasbela.

Maqsood also allegedly killed a religious scholar Syed Razi Haider and injured his son Syed Abbas Ali Razi in 2001. The accused also killed Imam-i-Masjid Syed Zaheer Hussain Rizvi in Korangi.

Colonel Abbas said Maqsood also confessed to his involvement in the killing a clerk of commissioner’s office in Karachi, Syed Mushtaq Hayder in Khudabad Colony and injuring a clerk of the National Identity Card office, Syed Saadat Ali Jaffery in Manzoor Colony.

He further stated that the looted money was utilized for operational activities of the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi.

Other arrested accused, Azhar-ul-Haq alias Tariq allegedly confessed his association with Asif Ramzi, Akram Lahori and Asif Chotoo in various terrorist activities, which they together carried out for Lashkar-i-Jhangvi.

Col Abbas said Azhar was a trained suicide bomber and got training from Muzzafar Abbasi, who was killed in a suicide bombing at Imambargah Satellite Town, Rawalpindi. Azhar was also involved in a police encounter in April 2004 in Karachi.

Giving details about the third accused, Nawaz alias Shosha, Colonel Abbas said Nawaz Khan used to send militants of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi to Afghanistan for training.

Col Abbas said further investigation is under way.

Speaking on the occasion, Sindh home minister Rauf Siddiqui reiterated the government’s resolve to curb sectarian violence, saying no one would be allowed to provoke sectarianism among masses in Sindh and those involved would be dealt with firmly.

He said that the rangers apprehended 1,840 terrorists and criminals during 2005 while in various operations, seven persons were killed.

He stated that the rangers also took into custody 788 guns, 45,751 rounds of bullets, 108 cars, 132 bikes and Rs1.287 million worth of narcotics. Moreover, Rs9.287 million worth of betel-nets and Rs33.148 million worth of other prohibited material was also seized, he stated.

He said that in these operations nine soldiers, including a major, were injured while one Jawaan lost his life.—APP/PPI