KARACHI: Four Pakistani Taliban militants including alleged mastermind of Abbas Town blasts Friday were arrested by CID police in Karachi, DawnNews reported.

Speaking at a press conference, SSP Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Sindh Police Chaudhry Aslam said that four members of outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were arrested during a raid. The raid was carried out by the anti-terrorism cell of the department in Manghopir’s mountainous area of Sultanabad, he added.

Aslam said that a large quantity of explosives, hand grenades and other assault weapons were recovered from their possession.

He claimed that one of the suspects, Ustad Aslam Mehsud, is the wing commander of the TTP’s Khan Zaman Mehsud group. Mehsud was Incharge of supplying explosives and transport for all terrorist activities carried out by the group.

The SSP further revealed that the arrested had planned suicide attacks on Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, MQM headquarters Nine Zero and the US Consulate in Karachi.

Meanwhile, Anti Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) of Karachi Police has revealed that police officer Rana Ishrat, recently arrested by the cell, has terrorist links with Pakistani Taliban.

The arrested officer was in contact with the TTP abductors, killed during an encounter in Maripur few days ago. Inspector Ishrat is currently under investigation for the murders of several police officials including AVCC ASI Faiz.