PESHAWAR: The Counter-Terrorism Department of the police has claimed to have arrested four militants of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (aka Daesh) group, who were involved in militancy and financing the globally-proscribed militant organisation.

A statement issued by the Counter-Terrorism Department said that local and foreign currency was also recovered from the arrested men, who were held during raids conducted by a special team in the provincial capital on Friday.

It said that the Counter-Terrorism Department had received an intelligence report about the presence of Sultan, an Ahmadzai tribesman from Paktia province of Afghanistan, in Phandu vegetable market of Peshawar. “Disguised as an Afghan trader, Sultan was involved in money laundering and providing financial resources to the militant organisation,” the statement said.

“Following the tip-off, a special team of Counter-Terrorism Department reached the vegetable market and found Sultan with a bag in his hand,” the statement said. It added that the raiding team also recovered foreign currency, including 150,000 Euros, 10,000 US dollars, 22,000 Saudi riyals, a mobile phone, an Afghan SIM card and a diary with Daesh written on it, from his bag.

The statement said that a case was registered against him under Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 and money-laundering provisions. It added that during interrogation, the militant revealed the names of his co-accused, including Firoz Khan, Rauf and Mohammad Hussain, all Pakistani nationals.

The three persons were also arrested and 25,000 Euros, 5,400 US dollars, 22,000 Saudi riyals, Rs3,500, three mobile phones and seven different mobile SIM cards were recovered from their possession, the statement said. It added that the arrested men were remanded to the police by the Anti-Terrorism Court, and were being interrogated.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2023