CTD arrests three Sunni Tehreek ‘target killers’

Karachi
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Monday claimed to have arrested three activists of the Pakistan Sunni Tehreek who have allegedly been involved in target killings and extortions.
At a press briefing, SSP Usman Bajwa said the suspects had been active in districts East and South for several years now and were wanted in murder cases of Muttahida Qaumi Movement workers and members of the Shia community.
The SSP claimed the men – identified as Sanwal alias Chariya, Hateem and Nasir – had already confessed to murdering 20 people, including rival political activists.
“They have confessed their involvement in the murders of MQM workers in Ferozabad, Brigade area, Arambagh, Eidgah, Risala and Napier,” said the SSP.
“In Brigade area, they had shot dead Gulsher, a member of the MQM’s Organising Committee, and a unit in-charge, Vicky alias Mota, in Napier. They had also targeted members of the Shia community in the Saddar and Brigade areas.”
SSP Bajwa said the men had also acknowledged that they received instructions from ST sector in-charges, Amir alias Billa in Lines Area and Rashid in Ranchor Lines.
As for the arrest, he said investigations had led them to a hideout in the Kashmir Road area. A raid was conducted, he said, and the three were taken into custody after a shootout.
Two 30-bore pistols, a 9mm pistol, three rifle grenades and a Kalashnikov were said to have been recovered from the hideout. The suspects have also confessed to committing street crimes.
Highway shootout
Police arrested a suspected kidnapper after a shootout at Jamali Pul on the Super Highway on Monday.
The shootout began when four suspects opened fire at a patrol team of the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC), which had arrived to take action after being informed of the presence of four suspicious-looking men there.
One of the suspects, Asghar Ali, was arrested, but his three accomplices escaped under the cover of fire.
The police claimed finding a shotgun, a pistol and Rs10,000 on the man.
During interrogation, Ali said he was involved in many crimes, including kidnappings for ransom, murders and robberies.
Narcotics seized
The Anti-Narcotics Force seized a huge cache of narcotics in a raid, the spokesman for the force said.
Acting on a tip-off, a team conducted the raid on a van stop near Gedu Chowk, Thatta, and seized 1,500 Kilograms of hashish from a vehicle.
The law enforcers arrested a suspect and registered a case against him.
Raids are being conducted in various areas of the province to apprehend the syndicate involved in the crime.