SAHIWAL: Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Special Judge Ziaullah Khanin on Wednesday sentenced an operative of the banned militant organisation Al-Qaeda to 31 years of rigorous imprisonment.

Reports said convict Sadiq Akbar was arrested during a sting operation conducted near Wahid Valley in Sahiwal on Nov 5, 2025, while allegedly planning a terrorist attack.

The Counter Crime Department (CCD) identified him as a resident of Chowk Mohalla Landa in Mardan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

During the operation, law-enforcement personnel recovered 1,968 grams of explosive material, an iron box, wires, detonators, electronic devices, Rs2,540 in cash, and other components commonly used in the preparation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

A case was registered against him under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosives Act, 1908, on the complaint of Muhammad Anees, an officer of the CCD, Sahiwal.

After completion of the trial, ATC Special Judge Ziaullah Khan convicted the accused and awarded him 31 years of rigorous imprisonment.

The court also ordered his transfer to central jail to serve the sentence.

BANNED: The district administration has imposed restrictions on 20 religious scholars from both Sunni and Shia sects as part of the security plan for Muharram.

Under the orders issued by Deputy Commissioner Samiullah Farooq, 15 scholars have been barred from entering the limits of Sahiwal district during the first 10 days of Muharram, while five others have been prohibited from delivering speeches.

Officials said the scholars belong to various religio-political organisations.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting held at the Commissioner’s Office last week to review security arrangements for Muharram.

The meeting was attended by Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rana Ayaz Saleem, District Police Officer (DPO) Usman Tipu, and other senior civil and police officials. The restrictions have been imposed to maintain law and order and prevent sectarian tensions.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2026