Six Khorasani group suspects arrested in pre-dawn raid

Published January 22, 2015
Policemen escorting suspected militants.— AFP/File
Policemen escorting suspected militants.— AFP/File

ISLAMABAD: Security forces raided a house in the Pindorian suburbs in the early hours of Wednesday and arrested six persons suspected of having links with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), sources told Dawn.

“They were being tracked for a couple of weeks and were found in a terrorist hideout in the Shahzad Town police precinct,” the sources said, confiding that the six belonged to the Khorasani group of the Mohmand Agency chapter of the TTP.

Nothing “worth mentioning” was recovered from the suspects by the raiding party, which included paramilitary elements, and they were taken to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.

They arrived in the federal capital recently and were hiding in the house. Their arrest is considered a ‘great success’ as hopefully they will help the security forces reach other terrorists who might have infiltrated the twin cities and their adjacent areas, said the sources. 

Early this month Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan - and before him Islamabad Inspector General of Police Tahir Alam Khan - had told media about the “presence of terrorists” in the federal capital. 

In fact, the local intelligence department had alerted the authorities concerned about a year ago that militants may be arriving here, mingled with the IDPs leaving North Waziristan before the military launched its Operation Zarb-e-Azb against the TTP elements.

Vigilance had been intensified at bus terminals in the capital in the wake of the December 16 schoolchildren massacre in Peshawar. Capital police have also been watching vehicles and passengers arriving into the city and gathering intelligence.

Police picked up 80 suspects in search operations they conducted in Kohsar, Margalla, Shalimar, Ramna, Golra and Tarnol precincts.

These security searches also covered Saidpur, Sectors G-8, F-10, G-10, G-13, G-14, Dhoke Rehmania, Sohan, New Abadi Faisal Colony, Jhangi Syedan as well as under-construction buildings there.

Published in Dawn January 22nd , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Opinion

Editorial

Slow start
Updated 15 Jun, 2024

Slow start

Despite high attendance, the NA managed to pass only a single money bill during this period.
Sindh lawlessness
Updated 15 Jun, 2024

Sindh lawlessness

A recently released report describes the law and order situation in Karachi as “worryingly poor”.
Punjab budget
15 Jun, 2024

Punjab budget

PUNJAB’S budget for 2024-25 provides much fodder to those who believe that the increased provincial share from the...
Budget and politics
Updated 14 Jun, 2024

Budget and politics

PML-N, scared of taking bold steps lest it loses whatever little public support it has, has left its traditional support — traders — virtually untouched.
New talks?
14 Jun, 2024

New talks?

WILL this prove another false start, or may we expect a more sincere effort this time? Reference is made to the...
A non-starter
14 Jun, 2024

A non-starter

WHILE the UN Security Council had earlier this week adopted a US-backed resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza...