Security agencies have arrested 10 terrorists, including six members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and two suspected female suicide bombers, in operations across Balochistan, provincial officials have said.
Shahid Rind, adviser to the Balochistan chief minister on media and political affairs, told reporters on Friday that around 90 arrested terrorists were being held at a centre for questioning and legal proceedings.
At a briefing attended by Additional Chief Secretary Hamza Shafqaat and Quetta Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Imran Shaukat, Rind said that law enforcement agencies had carried out operations in different parts of the province. Some terrorists were killed during the operations while others surrendered, he added.
The arrests also included two commanders of a banned organisation in Shaban and Khadkocha. Rind said that the provincial government remained open to reintegrating people who renounced armed violence and agreed to abide by Pakistan’s Constitution and laws.
He referred to Shahab, a Panjgur resident who had reportedly joined a banned organisation through social media, as an example. Rind said the government was working on rehabilitation programmes to help young people leave militancy and return to society, with assistance from their families, elected representatives and district administrations.
He added that security agencies will continue operations in coordination with the federal government under the province’s action plan.
Shafqaat said that security forces and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) detained Niaz Jatoi and Habibur Rehman, both from Kardgap, in August after authorities issued a heightened threat alert. He said that the arrests prevented an attack planned for August 14 in Quetta under “Herof-3”.
Officials also seized vehicles and recovered hand grenades, light machine guns and other weapons and explosives that were allegedly being moved from Chagai to Quetta, Shafqaat said.
He added that the provincial government had passed 16 laws and set up 17 departments over the past two years. Authorities were also working to rehabilitate detained militants.
Shaukat said that law enforcement agencies had carried out 3,300 Intelligence-Based Operations (IBOs) across Balochistan, arresting more than 300 suspected terrorists and killing hundreds. He said that police capabilities had improved, although two security personnel had lost their lives in the campaign against terrorism.
The briefing also included video statements from Shahab, Jatoi and Rehman.
