PESHAWAR, Aug 28: An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday remanded 12 activists of a banned militant organization in the custody of the Crimes Investigation Department for five days.

The militants, arrested at their offices on Tuesday, were produced before the court amid tight security. An official of the CID informed the presiding officer, Akhtar Zareef Khan, that the accused belonged to the defunct Harkatul Mujahideen.

The official requested the court to remand them in the CID’s custody as they were required for interrogation. He said they had reports that the activists were planning some acts of sabotage.

Some of them were identified as Qayyum Khan, Qamrul Haq, Noor Mohammad, Shafiullah, Adnan, Ahmedullah, Rahat Nabi, Zahidullah, Zafar Qayyum and Abdur Rehman. They were in the group’s office situated at Danishabad when a CID team raided the place and arrested them. The officials also recovered some arms and ammunitions.

Talking to newsmen, a CID official dispelled the impression that the accused belonged to Al Qaeda. He said that none of them were foreigners.