KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday remanded a suspected terrorist, said to be affiliated with the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in the custody of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) for 20 days.

A day earlier, the CTD claimed to have arrested Salman alias Abu Huraira and booked him in two cases, including a police encounter and possession of illicit weapons and explosive substances.

The CTD produced the suspect before the administrative judge of the ATCs at the judicial complex on the premises of Karachi central prison.

The investigating officer informed the court that the suspect was affiliated with the Fitna al-Khwarij, TTP. He disclosed during interrogation the names of his accomplices, who are still at large. He said the suspect’s custody was required to apprehend them on his pointation.

He claimed that the suspect was a member of a sleeper cell of TTP and had received suicide training in Afghanistan, adding that he had come to Karachi along with his accomplices to carry out a major suicide bombing.

The IO further stated that he needed to interrogate the suspect regarding the suicide jacket and explosive substances allegedly recovered from him, as well as to check his criminal record and requested a 30-day physical remand.

After hearing the IO, the court remanded the suspect in the CTD custody for 20 days and directed the IO to produce him on July 13 along with a progress report.

Two separate cases were registered at the CTD police station under Section 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 324 (attempted murder), 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and other provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and Section 4/5 of the Explosive Substance Act.

In a statement, the CTD had claimed that in a joint raid CTD along with federal intelligence agencies apprehended the member of TTP after an alleged encounter and recovered a suicide jacket and maps and photos of sensitive places.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd , 2026