QUETTA: Security forces arrested a man, suspected to be a leader of the Iran-based militant organisation Jundullah, from Lak Pass near here on Saturday.

Official sources identified the suspect as Abdul Salam Reki, cousin of Abdul Malik Reki, who was hanged by Iran in 2010 after he was arrested from a plane while travelling abroad.

The sources said that security forces intercepted a Quetta-bound passenger bus in Lak Pass area, 50km from here, in Mastung district and found Abdul Salam on it. He was coming from Taftan, a small town along the Pak-Iran border.

“Abdul Salam did not offer any resistance,” officials said.

He was handed over to the authorities concerned for interrogation, an official of the home department told Dawn.

Official sources said Abdul Salam was believed to have been involved in suicide bombing in Iranian and Pakistani areas along the border.

They said Abdul Salam had been running Jundullah after the execution of Abdul Malik Reki, the founder of the banned organisation.

The Iranian government has repeatedly alleged that “non-state actors” were attacking security forces inside its border areas and sought Pakistan’s help in arresting militants involved in such attacks.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2015

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