A commander of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was arrested while attempting to fly out of the country at Peshawar's Bacha Khan International Airport, an immigration official said.

Maulvi Bahadur Jan, who was wanted by the police in several cases of terrorism, was taken into custody before he was able to board a private airline's flight to Dubai on Sunday evening, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) airport director Tariq Pervaiz told DawnNewsTV.

According to the official, although the suspected militant had tried to change his appearance, he was arrested after immigration officials scrutinised his travel documents.

The interior ministry had added Maulvi Bahadur's name to the Exit Control List on a request of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), he added.

The suspected TTP commander hails from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Bannu district and is suspected of involvement in several incidents of terrorism.

Earlier this month, the CTD had claimed to have arrested an ‘important commander’ of TTP's Buner chapter who was allegedly involved in attacks on security forces and generating funds for terrorist activities.

According to CTD officials, the TTP suspect who was arrested from Karachi had "confessed" to his involvement in several acts of terrorism during an initial probe.

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...