JUIF seeks enhanced security for leadership

PESHAWAR: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUIF) has written to the Election Commission of Pakistan and other relevant forums to ensure upgraded security for its leadership during the election campaign.

The letter was sent after two would-be bombers were held by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) that were said to be planning attacks on JUIF chief Fazlur Rehman and Awami National Party chief Aimal Wali Khan.

“We are yet to receive any instructions but we have upgraded security for those who are facing any kind of threat,” a senior official of the KP Police told The News.

He said the JUIF leadership had approached the ECP for added security after two would-be bombers who were planning attack on leaders of JUI and ANP were held. The official said adequate security had also been provided to the leadership of other political parties in KP.

The CTD Friday arrested two alleged would-be suicide bombers sent to attack Fazlur Rehman and Aimal Wali Khan.

An official of the CTD told reporters that both the terrorists were arrested during two separate operations on the outskirts of Peshawar. Two suicide jackets, hand grenades, 9mm pistols and terrorism related literature was recovered from them.

The held terrorists were identified as Adil Khan from Matani and Tahir Khan from Landikotal. The official said the held terrorists were members of Daesh and were trained across the border in Paktia, Afghanistan, in June 2023.

“They had planned to carry out attacks on senior politicians and for that reason the held terrorists had visited the Mufti Mahmood Markaz in Peshawar a few times to know about the routes and schedule of politicians,” he added.

The authorities had last month alerted the police across the country to further improve security of two senior politicians from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after reports of threats to their lives. In the threat alert, the chief secretaries and police chiefs of the provinces were asked to take adequate measures for the security of Fazl and Aimal Wali Khan.

The law and order situation has worsened in many parts of KP for the last many months with an increase in attacks on police.