LAHORE: The law enforcement agencies on Monday arrested a facilitator of the so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group late on Sunday during a combing operation in Cantonment Area.

According to sources, Umer alias Sufiyan of Multan was arrested for arranging accommodation for the militants by renting apartments in different city areas.

The suspect was also involved in providing residence to Azeem alias Abu Fauji, who is still absconding. The government had announced Rs1million reward for providing any actionable information about Fauji.

Sufiyan, who was residing in Cantonment area when the law enforcement agencies took him in custody. He allegedly rented a 5marla house in Punjab Housing Society (near Ghazi Road) for militants.

Ali Tariq, who was killed in an encounter, had completed his BS Electrical Engineering from a private university in 2016. The suspect was a resident of Manazir Ali Road, House No E-855, Mohalla Nadirabad-1, Ali Park, Bedian Road, Lahore Cantt.

According to sources, the suspect had come under surveillance for the first time when the law enforcement agencies detected his brother, Ahmad Ali Tariq, a medical student, for owning an internet device being used to contact the IS leaders.

The law enforcement agencies raided the suspect’s house but he was not present there. Following the raid the suspect had stopped visiting his house and contacting his family.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2017