RAWALPINDI/LAHORE: The security forces successfully thwarted a major terror plot and busted a network of suicide bombers and their facilitators following information extorted from suspects during interrogation.
According to details, the security agencies launched an operation based on information gathered in the aftermath of the suicide bombing at Jamrud Takhta Beg checkpost on January 19. The security agencies conducted the intelligence-based operation on January 23 about the presence of a network of suicide bombers.
During the suicide attack on Jamrud checkpost, the terrorists had detonated a bomb after exchanging fire with security forces and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) later claimed responsibility for the attack.
Subsequently, security forces launched an operation to trace the perpetrators. The forces sent the bullet casings and body parts of the terrorists to laboratory for forensic tests. Analysis of geo-fencing and captured closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage revealed on January 21 that a banned TTP terrorist identified as Umar carried out the suicide attack.
Umar was facilitated by Satana Jan, a resident of Jamrud Tehsil in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and this clue led the security agencies to the network of suicide bombers on January 23.
A significant cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosive materials were also seized from the terrorist group.
During the intelligence based operation, the security forces arrested Farmanullah and Abdul Qayyum. Meanwhile, the TTP accepted that Satana Jana, the facilitator of the operation, had been killed.
Based on the information obtained from Farmanullah and Abdul Qayyum, another major operation was conducted on January 27. Security forces hoped to apprehend three suspected terrorists.
While conducting the operation, security forces arrested four people including Fazl Amin, Fazl Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, and Hamadullah.
Fazl Ahmed was identified as the man who took pictures of the on January 19 attack using his mobile phone.
During questioning, facilitator Fazal Ahmed revealed that a suicide bomber, who was an Afghan national, was present at an identified location. Based on this information, security forces apprehended two Afghan nationals.
The report stated that Satana Jan was a facilitator of the TTP and its members, including suicide bombers. He is believed to arrange and provide weapons and suicide jackets to suicide bombers.
He would also arrange for their travel and shelter. Now, officials believe that Satana Jan was acting as a local commander of the TTP network in North Waziristan. He had four separate hideouts where he would hide and also keep suicide bombers and prepare them for their mission.
Terror suspects arrested in Gujranwala, Pindi
Meanwhile, the Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed to have arrested three alleged terrorists in operations across the province on Saturday.
According to CTD, the terror suspects arrested from Rawalpindi and Gujranwala were identified as: Kitab Khan, Irshadul Haq and Muhammad Arshad Siddiquie.
The CTD sources informed that a huge quantity of explosive material and weapons were also recovered from the suspects. They said the CTD carried out a number of combing operations in several cities of Punjab including Lahore after receiving information about suspected persons.
During the last one week, 23,381 people were screened with the help of modern technology during 471 combing operations across Punjab, the CTD official informed. They added as many as 75 FIRs were registered arrest of 95 suspects from different districts including Lahore.
