PESHAWAR, Aug 10: A homeopathic doctor and a mobile phone technician were picked up from different parts of the city on suspicion of having links with militant organizations, sources told Dawn here on Tuesday.

Dr Nisar, son of late Dr Sofi Saleem, was picked up by a secret agency personnel on Monday night from his residence in Phase VI of Hayatabad township, the sources said. He had a clinic in Bilour Plaza in the Cantonment area, but he was spending most of his time in teaching Quran in mosques and other places in Hayatabad township, said a family friend of the doctor.

The apparent reason of the arrest of Dr Nisar could be his inclination towards Jehad as he often advised people during his sermons to prepare themselves for the holy war, said his colleague doctor.

Sources said that the family had links with the Jamaat-i-Islami and one of his brothers was killed in Afghanistan while fighting against former Soviet forces during Najibullah rule.

The mobile phone technician was arrested by the security agency near Shahbaz intersection in Kohati locality on Saturday night. According to the sources, Abdul Basit, a resident of Yakatoot, was going to his house after closing his mobile repairing shop in Kabari Bazaar, when the security personnel picked him up near Shahbaz intersection, his brother Sattar told this correspondent.

"He has no links with any organization," Mr Sattar said. However, he said that he was a member of a Tablighi Jamaat. Mr Sattar said that he had contacted local police, but they denied of having any information about Abdul Basit.