KARACHI: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Friday said it had arrested two alleged militants belonging to the banned Naeem Bukhari group who were wanted in multiple terrorism cases, including bomb attacks and high-profile targeted killings in Karachi.
According to a CTD spokesperson, the suspects had been absconding since 2015 and were attempting to reorganise the group’s sleeper cell network in the city when they were apprehended in a major intelligence-based operation.
The arrested men were identified as Muhammad Jameel Ansari, alias Shoaib and Chacha, and Hammad Ali Ansari, alias Zarar and Bablu.
The CTD claimed that Jameel Ansari had received formal training in the fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and electronic circuits in Afghanistan, while Hammad Ali Ansari was a close associate of alleged militants Dildar alias Chacha and Imran Bhatti.
Officials said the two suspects were wanted in several terrorism cases involving IED attacks and high-profile targeted killings in Karachi. They were among the accused in a 2013 case relating to an IED attack on a Rangers vehicle in Korangi.
The suspects were also wanted in connection with several other cases, including the deadly attack on Karachi airport, and have been accused of involvement in the 2015 motorcycle-borne bomb attack targeting a Rapid Response Force truck, the CTD said.
According to investigators, the Naeem Bukhari group has been involved in the targeted killings of government officials and security personnel in Karachi. The CTD further claimed that the arrested suspects had links to the network allegedly involved in the targeted killing of renowned qawwal Amjad Sabri and military police personnel.
The CTD said it recovered a cache of explosive material and other equipment from the suspects’ possession, including four explosive slabs, five detonators, 10 metres of prima cord, a remote-control device and five pistol magazines.
Fresh cases are reported to have been registered against the suspects under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Arms Act, while further investigations are under way.
