LADHA: Adnan Rashid, a fugitive of the Air Force (PAF), is reported to have been captured, along with three others, from Shakai area of South Waziristan Agency.

Military and intelligence sources, however, denied the reports about his capture. Sources in the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan also expressed their ignorance about the detention of Adnan Rashid, a high-profile commander who was on death row on charges of an attempt on the life of former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf.

However, TV channels claimed late in the night that TTP had confirmed the capture of Adnan Rashid.

Some sources claimed that Rashid had been taken into custody during an operation carried out on Friday. He was injured and taken to an unspecified place. They said that another suspect, Mufti Zubair Marwat, who had association with Al Qaeda, had also been captured, along with his driver and guard.

According to an official, Adnan Rashid, a former technician in PAF, was captured after an exchange of fire with security forces in Shakai, about 25km south of Wana, the headquarters of South Waziristan. He was inside a residential compound which was cordoned off by intelligence personnel and soldiers.

“He was critically injured and was airlifted to an undisclosed location for treatment,” the official said.

There are reports that three Al Qaeda men were also caught.

According to the sources, Adnan Rashid moved to Shakai in South Waziristan, from Miramshah, North Waziristan, after the military operation.

A senior military official had told journalists in Miramshah on Thursday that security forces had recovered “traces” of Adnan Rashid from Boya, about 25km west of the regional headquarters.

Adnan Rashid, who was arrested for attacking Gen Musharraf in December 2003, escaped from Bannu jail on April 15, 2012, after it was attacked by TTP militants. About 400 prisoners, including hardcore suspects, also escaped.

The sources said Adnan Rashid was with Taliban commander Sadiq Noor in Miramshah. He was shown in video footage giving guerilla training to militants in the tribal area.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2014