KARACHI: The Counter-Terrorism Department on Friday claimed to have arrested an activist of a religious party, who had been declared a proclaimed offender in a terrorism case.

Acting on a tip-off, the CTD conducted a raid in Orangi Town and held Tariq Mahmood alias Tariq Qadri, said CTD SSP Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto.

“The held suspect was affiliated with the Sunni Tehreek (ST),” he said, adding that a .30-bore pistol was recovered from his possession.

The officer said that he was a proclaimed offender in two criminal cases.

Sharing details of the cases, the SSP said that the police’s Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) had in January 2018 carried out a raid on a graveyard in Orangi Town from where the suspect managed to escape. However, the AVCC had recovered two grenades and as many pistols and lodged two separate FIRs (1/2018 and 2/2018) under the Explosives Act, nominating Mahmood as an absconding suspect.

“The held suspect is associated with the religious organisation and allegedly involved in criminal activities. Further legal proceedings are under way,” the official said.

‘Hitman’ among four held

Pakistan Rangers, Sindh on Friday claimed to have arrested four suspects including an alleged hitman.

The arrests were made in raids carried out in different parts of the metropolis.

The paramilitary force arrested suspect Rehmatullah in the Brigade area.

“The held suspect was involved in targeted killings and dacoities,” said a Rangers’ spokesperson. Three other suspects — Arsalan alias Kala, M. Javed alias Jhumpra and Sanaullah alias Sano — were held in raids in Sir Syed Town area.

“They were involved in several incidents of street crimes,” added the official.

Three die in accident

Three men were killed and four others injured when a trailer collided head on with a jeep on the Northern Bypass, police and Edhi officials said on Friday. They added that seven persons were on their way to Balochistan from Karachi in a jeep when a trailer coming from the opposite direction hit it near Mochko police station on Thursday.

Area SHO Tasawwar Amir said that due to the impact of the accident, the jeep fell in the ‘katcha’ area, causing death of three persons and injuries to four others.

The officer said that the deceased belonged to the same family. They were identified as Ali Murad, 30, Sajid, 22, and Salman Saeed, 21.

The Edhi Foundation shifted the dead and the injured to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi. The police claimed to have arrested the trailer driver, Bashir, and seized the vehicle.

Security for cricket matches

Police have adopted strict security arrangements for West Indies and Pakistan women cricket teams’ matches in the city.

Snap checking has been started in different parts of East and South districts where suspicious persons and vehicles are being checked.

Meanwhile, IGP Sindh Kaleem Imam has arranged a dinner in honour of the players of both the teams at CPO on Saturday (today).

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2019