LAHORE: Law enforcement agencies arrested two suspected terrorists in an intelligence-based operation in Multan.

A spokesperson for the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Monday said a raiding team seized huge cache of explosives and weapons, including hand grenades, from the suspects belonging to the militant Islamic State (IS) group. They also recovered money from them that was being used for terror financing, he added.

He further said a credible source informed them that IS terrorists possessing arms and explosives were present at Stadium Morr on Vehari Road, Multan and planning to target vital installations. After receiving information, CTD personnel launched an operation involving intelligence teams and arrested the suspected terrorists, who were later identified as Waseemur Rehman and Samiullah.

The spokesperson claimed that Samiullah was an associate of Azfaal Ahmad, a resident of Samundri, who was the mastermind and founder of the local Al Qaeda chapter that later merged into IS. The suspect was involved in recruitment for Al Qaeda from Khanewal and Multan. He also provided a hideout to the group and was involved in transportation of weapons.

“While Waseem is a close associate of Kashif Qayyum, former head of the local IS network,” he added.

This group purchased a hideout in the name of Waseem in Dijkot, Faisalabad and kept most of the abductees there under his supervision.

He also arranged logistics for the group. The spokesperson said more disclosures were expected as the arrested suspects were being interrogated.

A case was registered at the CTD police station in Multan.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2018