Islamabad Police. Photo: APP (file)
RAWALPINDI:
The Rawalpindi Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), in coordination with relevant agencies, arrested seven suspects linked to the facilitators and perpetrators of the recent suicide attack at the Islamabad Judicial Complex, sources said on Thursday.
The suspects have been taken to an undisclosed location, where authorities have launched extensive investigations into the network behind Tuesday’s attack, which claimed the lives of 12 people and injured 28 others.
Official sources said that a group of extremists associated with Fitna al-Hindustan attacked police personnel and civilians outside the Judicial Complex in an attempt to spread chaos across the country. Among the victims were both police officers and lawyers.
A case has been registered in CTD Islamabad under the Anti-Terrorism Act, citing charges of murder, attempt to murder and other relevant offences. The CTD, along with investigative teams from other agencies, is actively seeking leads to dismantle the network.
Using Safe City cameras installed in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, authorities tracked the suicide bomber to the crime scene and determined his arrival points. Sources said the suspect had arrived with a motorcyclist for a payment of Rs 200.
“The suspect was later seen moving around various locations near the Judicial Complex,” a source said. Investigators also revealed that the alleged facilitator was present in the Pirwadhai area of Rawalpindi, prompting the CTD Rawalpindi to launch a targeted operation.
During the last 18 to 24 hours, simultaneous operations were carried out in Pirwadhai, Fauji Colony and Dhokh Kashmirian as well as parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Authorities detained six or seven suspects and took them to undisclosed locations for further questioning.
Late night on Wednesday and Thursday, Islamabad and Rawalpindi police along with relevant agencies carried out search operations in Tarnol and Ganjmandi jurisdictions, sources said.
Meanwhile, in light of the prevailing security concerns and the ongoing cricket series in Rawalpindi, the police carried out large-scale operations in various neighborhoods of the city and arrested scores of suspects.
“During the operations, authorities inspected 1,350 houses, 183 shops and 33 hotels, and checked the records of more than 1,300 people. Biometric verification was carried out, resulting in the arrest of 56 Afghan nationals residing illegally in the city, along with one wanted criminal,” an official said.
A Rawalpindi police spokesperson said the main objective of these operations is to maintain law and order. “All available resources are being deployed to ensure public safety and protect the city against potential threats,” the spokesperson added.
