BANNU: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Thursday conducted an intelligence-based operation and arrested a most-wanted terrorist, Osama alias Baghi, from the Pipal Bazaar area.

According to a statement issued by Bannu CTD Superintendent of Police (SP) Fazal Wahid, the suspect belonged to Bannu district and was said to be an active commander of the newly formed organisation Ittehadul Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), established through a collaboration between the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Gul Bahadur group.

He said that the suspect confessed to his involvement in nine major terrorist activities during the initial interrogation.

He said that these included the December 2025 attack on Miranshah Assistant Commissioner Shah Wali Khan, in which he was martyred along with his two security guards and a civilian.

The suspect also confessed to the abduction and killing of former Bannu station house officer Abid Wazir in November 2025. Additionally, he also admitted to his involvement in the abduction and murder of three members of the Lakki Marwat peace committee, who were actively working for public welfare and regional peace, the police official said.

According to the CTD official, the suspect had also confessed to kidnapping two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel and police officials from Pipal Daud Shah. He also admitted involvement in the June 2024 killing of a polio officer and his guard in Mamand Khel, the SP said.

He said that initial investigations showed that Osama alias Baghi was involved in the reconnaissance of sensitive institutions, and providing secret photographs and information of police personnel to terrorists.

The official said the suspect had also confessed to setting up illegal checkpoints in Pipal Bazaar and other areas along with his accomplices to harass civilians.

He said that further investigation was underway, and raids were being conducted to arrest his facilitators and other associates.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa inspector general and CTD additional inspector general appreciated the CTD team for the successful operation and termed the arrest of the most-wanted terrorist commander as a significant step toward regional peace.

Meanwhile, Domel police also carried out a separate operation, arresting two terrorists along with three facilitators.

According to District Police Officer Yasir Afridi, the arrested terrorists were involved in sniper attacks at Nala Kashu and Police Post Khonia Khel. Two police personnel were injured in the attack on Khonia Khel police checkpost.