Afghan national held for blast outside PHC

PESHAWAR: Police officials said on Wednesday a terrorist belonging to Afghanistan had been arrested for involvement in a bomb attack outside the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on December 16. The arrested alleged terrorist was identified as Ikramullah, son of Habibullah, an Afghan national who had crossed the border into Pakistan via Chaman on December 12. This was disclosed by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Tahir Ayub, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mohammad Ali Gandapur, chief minister’s advisor Ajmal Wazir, SSP Operations Zahoor Afridi and other officials during a joint press conference at the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines. The officials said the arrestee stayed at a hotel near Haji Camp Adda in Peshawar and observed the movement in and around the apex court building.

The police said they have recovered two Afghan identity cards, Rs29100,100 US dollars and other documents from him and raids were being conducted to arrest his facilitato The DIG CTD told reporters that the terrorists were paid money by the commander of a terrorist group in Afghanistan for carrying out the attack.

He added that other law-enforcement and intelligence agencies provided support to police in arresting the terrorist. “The terrorist had planned major terrorist activity in the city. The sabotage act in Peshawar is a result of the nexus between RAW and NDS,” said Ajmal Wazir.

The adviser added that the security forces took prompt action to arrest the terrorist involved in the attack on the PHC. He said the country would be wiped out of terrorists as more measures were being taken on the border and in the cities to improve security.