ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: A terrorist network allegedly involved in recent suicide attacks in different parts of the country, including Islamabad and Rawalpindi, has been busted.

In a weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Interior Ministry spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema said the ‘terrorists’ were arrested on Monday in the Chauntra area of Rawalpindi in a predawn raid by the Punjab Police.

“This is one network and we are searching for another involved in suicide attacks as they are linked with each other and with Al Qaeda militants in South Waziristan,” he added.

The gang members were identified as Sami Ullah, Sheraz, Hassan Majeed, Abu Bakar, Zahid Mehmood, Muhammad Hussain, Ejaz Hussain and Muhammad Arsalan, all belonging to Rawalpindi.

Brig Cheema said preliminary interrogation had revealed that they were providing transportation and communication facilities to the suicide bombers.

“The raiding team has recovered weapons, laptops and material for making bombs,” he said.

The spokesman said: “We know the names of the masterminds of suicide attacks but cannot be divulged at this stage,” he said.

Answering a question about the Tarbela suicide attack in which over 20 army personnel were killed, he said: “We have not found any clue linking the Al Qaeda to the attack, but the possibility cannot be ruled out.”

Brig Cheema condemned the recent police excesses against the journalists and lawyers in Islamabad and said action would definitely be taken against those found responsible. He said steps would be taken to avoid such incidents in future.

He said the interior secretary had issued certain guidelines to the Islamabad administration to maintain peace, but what happened on September 29 was not part of that policy.

The spokesman said the lamination paper had now been imported and the people would not face any problem in getting their passports promptly.

Replying to a question about Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts, he said there was no evidence suggesting his presence in Pakistan.