KARACHI: Law enforcement agencies on Sunday claimed to have detained at least 24 suspects including 'militants' belonging to banned outfits during raids across the metropolis.
A senior police official told media that police’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested four suspected militants from Korangi Industrial Area of the city.
The CTD claims that the suspects namely Mohammed Shahid alias Zubair, Mohammed Ali, Manzoor Ahmed and Usman Ghani alias Baba belong to the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and the sectarian terror group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.
CTD SSP Usman Bajwa claimed that the suspects were involved in a number of terrorist activities including killing people from rival sects and the 2001 bomb attack on a gambling den in Ghas Mandi area.
Related: Club where bomb exploded
The 2011 blast at the largest gambling club in Ghas Mandi area of Lyari town claimed lives of at least 18 people and injured several others.
Separately, Pakistan Rangers Sindh carried out targeted raids in different areas of the city and apprehended 20 suspects including members of banned outfits, said a spokesperson of the paramilitary force.
Related: People of Karachi want Rangers-led operation: Imran Khan
The ‘operation’ against criminal elements in Pakistan’s commercial hub was initiated back in September 2013 after the federal cabinet empowered Rangers to lead a targeted advance with the support of police against criminals already identified by federal military and civilian agencies for their alleged involvement in targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism in Karachi.
However, the Sindh Assembly last week passed a resolution asking for implementation of checks and conditions on Rangers’ special powers to raid and arrest suspects. The resolution states that Rangers will only have powers with respect to target killing, extortion, kidnapping for ransom and sectarian killing
The resolution, which was approved by the House, was criticised by opposition members who claimed the government wanted to seriously curtail the paramilitary force’s powers.
