Tag: Counter Terrorism Department

  • ‘Balach’s murderers be punished’; Protests in Turbat enter eight-day

    The Balochistan government has put together a four-member committee to investigate the alleged extrajudicial killing of Balaach Mola Bakhsh in a clash with the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Turbat.

    The committee, formed under Section 3(1) of the Balochistan Tribunal of Inquiry Ordinance 1969, will be led by Fisheries Secretary Imran Gichki and includes the Deputy Inspector General of Quetta police, Deputy Commissioner of Kech, and Gwadar SSP.

    The committee is mandated to complete its inq­uiry, determine the incident’s motives, and submit its report within 15 days.

    Balaach Mola Bakhsh’s funeral took place on Wednesday, and a subsequent sit-in at Fida Shaheed Chowk saw the family and organizers expressing their commitment to continuing protests until justice is served.

    The case

    On November 24, four men were killed in an alleged encounter by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). Among them, Mr Bakhsh, Shakoor Baloch, Saif Baloch were identified, while the identity of one person remains unknown.

    However, conflicting accounts emerged as the family refuted the CTD’s claims, asserting that Balaach was not involved in any unlawful activities and was picked up on October 29, leading to his alleged killing in a “fake encounter.”

    The ongoing protest, now in its eitht day, has garnered attention and renewed discussions on extrajudicial detentions and deaths, shedding light on concerns of police impunity in Balochistan province.

    Baloch’s killing has triggered outrage in cities across the Makran division, with a complete shutter-down strike observed in Turbat and other towns on Wednesday while roads leading from the area to Pakistan’s main business hub, Karachi, were blocked by protesters.

    Following a demand by Baloch’s family, a local court in Turbat had ordered the registration of a First Information Report (FIR), or police complaint, against the CTD team involved in the operation in which the 24-year-old was allegedly killed.

    “Now we are protesting because despite court orders, why are the authorities not registering an FIR against the people who killed my brother,” Balach’s elder sister Najma Baloch told Arab News.

    On the government’s inquiry tribunal, she said: “Neither do I know anything about the inquiry committee nor has anyone from the committee contacted us.”

    “Now hundreds of people have joined the protest and are demanding registration of FIR against the CTD team,” she added, saying her family’s “clear demand” was that Baloch’s murderers be punished.

  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa businessmen threaten industrial shutdown amidst worsening law and order situation

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa businessmen threaten industrial shutdown amidst worsening law and order situation

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) business community has expressed their concerns regarding the unfavorable law and order conditions, threatening a potential shutdown of industrial operations.

    Malik Imran Ishaq, President of Hayyatabad Industrial State, highlighted the persistent issue of extortion demands faced by industrialists. He further stated that unidentified individuals resort to grenade attacks on residences and offices when businessmen fail to comply with the extortion demands.

    In light of these circumstances, the president of the KP industrialists association has urged the government to ensure adequate security measures, emphasising that failure to do so would force them to halt their industrial activities.

    The deteriorating law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province has become a cause for concern among businessmen and residents alike.

    As per available records, a total of 411 incidents were reported in the province in the year 2022, out of which 342 cases were filed in relation to extortion.

    Additionally, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) registered First Information Reports (FIRs) for 69 extortion incidents and successfully apprehended 173 individuals involved in extortion activities during the same year.

  • ‘KU bombing planned by BLF and BLA, neighbouring country had a role’: Sharjeel Memon

    ‘KU bombing planned by BLF and BLA, neighbouring country had a role’: Sharjeel Memon

    Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Tuesday (July 5) said that the Karachi University (KU) suicide bombing on April 26 was a joint plan by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF).

    On Monday, a 13-member Chinese delegation, led by a Chinese counterterrorism official, called on Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah and discussed with him security measures for Chinese nationals working in Sindh and the progress of the probe into the KU attack.

    An intelligence team of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) revealed in the meeting that an “important accused” had been arrested.

    Addressing a press conference today, Memon said that the suspect, a terrorist, had revealed that the KU attack was the joint work of the BLF and the BLA.

    “During the investigation process, the suspect made important revelations. He said that he was the commander of a BLF sleeper cell in Karachi.”

    Memon further said that the suspect met the husband of the female suicide bomber (Shari Baloch), Dr Haibastan Bashir, and another “important terrorist” named “Zeb” in Karachi, and helped to carry out the KU attack.

    The minister further added that the suspect revealed that “Zeb was the KU attack mastermind”, who entered Pakistan from a “neighbouring country” and had been staying in Karachi with Shari Baloch and her husband.

    Shari Baloch, a 30-year-old woman, committed a suicide bombing near the Confucius Institute of Karachi University on April 26. In the suicide attack, she targeted four people, including Chinese nationals and a van driver.

    She was an educated woman who belonged from Kech, Balochistan. She had been with Balochistan Students Organisation-Azad (BSO Azad) since college. She later joined the separatist movement of the Majeed Brigade of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). She completed her master’s degree in education from Allama Iqbal Open University in 2014.

  • Counter-Terrorism Department warns of assassination threat against Imran Khan

    Counter-Terrorism Department warns of assassination threat against Imran Khan

    The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD)’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) wing has issued a warning that terrorists are planning the assassination of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, reports Daily Jang.

    According to the publication, terrorists have given the responsibility to an Afghan assassin to target Khan. However, the assassin handed over the responsibility to others.

    Several PTI leaders have expressed concerns about the threat to Khan’s life.

    Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted in April that a plot to assassinate Khan was reported by security agencies. Therefore, Khan’s security was also increased.

    PTI leader Faisal Vawda had also said that a conspiracy was being hatched to assassinate the then-premier over his refusal to “sell the country”.

    Vawda made these claims on ARY News show “Off the Record” in response to a question about a letter that Khan brandished at the PTI’s March 27 power show in Islamabad and claimed it contained “evidence” of a “foreign conspiracy” to topple his government.

    He also said that the then prime minister was told multiple times that bulletproof glass needed to be installed before his dais at the March 27 rally. “But as always and as usual, he said my [death] will come when Allah wills. Don’t worry about it,” Vawda quoted Khan as saying.

  • COAS Bajwa orders tight security for OIC meeting, PDM changes long march dates

    COAS Bajwa orders tight security for OIC meeting, PDM changes long march dates

    In a Corps Commanders’ Conference held at General Headquarters (GHQ) on Monday, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa ordered that the security in the federal capital must be increased and comprehensive security measures should be taken for the safe conduct of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) foreign ministers’ meeting (March 22-23) and the March 23 Pakistan Day parade in the capital.

    For the OIC meeting in Pakistan, 48 countries have confirmed their participation.

    Due to the high-profile events taking place next week, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman reviewed their march dates. While talking to reporters, he announced that the participants would now enter Islamabad on March 25 instead of March 23.

    “OIC’s foreign ministers are our guests and it is our duty to respect them as they will remain in Islamabad till March 24,” Fazl added.

    PDM chief denied that the Opposition was copying the ruling party by holding the long march. He reminded everyone that they had given the call for the long march some three months ago.

    At the Corps Commanders’ Conference, the recent incident of India’s missile firing at Pakistan was also discussed. It was emphasised that despite Indian acknowledgment of the mistake, relevant international forums must take a serious view.

    Gen Bajwa also lauded the ongoing counter-terrorism operations, which is a major concern especially because of recent incidents.

  • Counter Terrorism agents arrests two alleged members of ISIS from Khanewal, Punjab

    Counter Terrorism agents arrests two alleged members of ISIS from Khanewal, Punjab

    The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) is claiming that they have arrested two members from ISIS after a raid in Khanewal city, Punjab.

    The spokesperson of the CTD revealed that the suspects were preparing for attacks on the important installations and worship places. The team also recovered banned literature, weapons, and hand grenades.

    Further investigation is still underway.

    A new wave of terrorism is hitting cities across Pakistan from the beginning of the year, 2022 after a ceasefire was unilaterally ended by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

    Last month, terrorists targeted Lahore with a bomb blast at a famous crowded marketplace, New Anarkali. Three people died including one child and several were injured in the attack.

    Recently attacks occurred in Balochistan on a Wednesday evening resulting in four soldiers embracing martyrdom and killing 15 terrorists. Terrorists tried to enter a security forces’ camp from two locations. The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks.

    Similarly, an incident occurred on January 28, when 10 soldiers embraced martyrdom after terrorists attacked a security forces’ check-post in Balochistan’s Kech district.

  • CIA joins investigation of Lahore blast, arrest suspects

    CIA joins investigation of Lahore blast, arrest suspects

    The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) has joined the Lahore bomb blast investigation and will interrogate the case with the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), reports Dawn.

    Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Rao Sardar Ali Khan also announced that the CIA has been assigned to investigate the probe beside the CTD.

    Law enforcement agencies have started their search operations all over the city and arrested some accused on the suspicion of their alleged involvement in the Lahore bomb blast.

    The CIA chief held a meeting on Friday after investigating the crime scene and also sent teams to inspect the roads that the prime suspect could have used the route for escape from the crime scene.

    He said, “We have dispatched teams to all the bus stations, railway stations, and exit-entry points of the provincial capital.”

    He also added that the regional police officers and district police officers of Punjab have also been given orders by the IGP to be vigilant for intensifying the security to track down the culprits.

    Sources shared with Dawn the initial development that the law enforcers received a tip-off about the presence of suspects in the area near Anarkali market and other locations of the city. The investigative team has received some important leads through CCTV video and call records.

    Meanwhile, officials refused to confirm any major development as the interrogation is still underway.

    On Thursday, a bomb blast took place in Lahore near Pan Mandi in New Anarkali in which three people died and 28 people were injured. The injured people were shifted to Mayo Hospital. 20 people who were injured got discharged from Mayo Hos­pital whereas eight victims are still under treatment.

    While replying to Dawn, an official source revealed that there is a “strong possibility” of the Baloch Nationalist Army’s involvement behind the bomb blast.

  • Wife planned assassination of Sindh Bar Council Secretary: police

    The initial investigation of police revealed that the wife of a secretary of the Sindh Bar Council plotted the murder of her husband, Irfan Ali Mahar, who was assassinated by unknown assailants earlier this month in Karachi. She was frustrated by the domestic abuse she was facing when she asked her brother to assist her in the murder.

    On December 1, Mahar left his house to drop off his daughter at school. He was driving near Chappal Plaza in Block 13 of Gulistan-i- Jauhar when two armed men on a motorcycle opened fire and shot him multiple times.

    The acting police chief of Karachi and Counter-Terrorism Department officials held a press conference on Sunday to reveal the initial findings of the case.

    Acting Karachi police chief, Ghulam Nabi Memon said in the press conference that prime suspects including accomplices who assisted them have been arrested, one of them is the brother-in-law of the deceased.

    Memon further added that Mahar’s wife planned to assassinate her husband with the help of her sister and brother as she was infuriated, due to quarrels and property disputes between them.

    Mahar’s wife persuaded her brother to kill his brother-in-law and gave him Rs 220,000 on different occasions. Later her brother asked his friend, Wajid Jakhro to assist him in murdering his brother-in-law, Mahar.

    Memon revealed that Mahar’s wife gave the information to her brother on the mobile phone regarding Mahar leaving the residence for dropping off his daughter at school on December 1. The suspect chased him and killed Mahar at the spot when he was coming back to the house after dropping off his daughter at school.

    The police claimed that they recovered the murder weapon, motorbike, helmet along Call Data Record (CDR) of the suspects.

    The motorcycle was ridden by Jakhro while Mahar’s brother-in-law opened fire on Mahar leaving him to die at the spot. They have no affiliation with any political party, the acting police chief said.

    The representatives of Sindh Bar Council who were in the press conference were satisfied with the ongoing investigation.