ISLAMABAD, June 29: The capital police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested two suspected activists of the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for their alleged involvement in an attempt to assassinate President Asif Ali Zardari in the city last month.

The arrest also led to the recovery of a ready-to-blow explosive jacket, a hand grenade and a pistol from their possession.

The suspects were identified as Munawar alias Meera Jan and Mohibullah, both residents of Fata.

On a tip-off that the suspects were present at the Karachi Company bus terminal, the Margalla police swooped on them.

The police said the suicide jacket, hand grenade and pistol were recovered from a bag which the suspects were carrying. The bomb disposal squad was called to the spot which defused the explosives, said the police.

During preliminary investigation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the foiled terrorist attempt at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) during the president's possible visit to the hospital to see his father in May, the police claimed, adding they also confessed to their involvement in a planned terrorist activity at the district courts in F-8.

On June 4, security agencies picked up eight alleged terrorists for their involvement in the foiled plot to assassinate the president.

The arrest was made after security agencies intercepted a telephone call in which two persons had talked about the presence of a suicide bomber at Pims on May 15.

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