Naimat Khan
KARACHI: Security Agencies arrested a close aide of Abdul Karim Sarosh Siddiqui – an Ansarul Shariah militant who escaped arrest after shooting down a policeman during raid on his house in Kaniz Fatima Society of Karachi.
According to reliable sources Abu Saleh was pounded at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport when he was going to fly at domestic flight.
Security agencies recovered two mobile phones, a laptop and hard desk from the possession the ASP militant.
Director General of Pakistan Rangers Sindh, Major General Muhammad Saeed on Saturday confirmed that Ansarul Shariah Pakistan was formed in Karachi and was restricted to the seaside Pakistani Metropolis
While talking to media in Karachi two days earlier, Saeed said that educational institutions had no role in turning students towards militancy whereas students from all universities, not only University of Karachi, were involved in terror activities.
The target killer team of Ansarul Shariah has been identified which had started terrorism in start of this year.
The person who had formed Ansarul Shariah was associated with Al Qaeda, DG Rangers further said.
Major Gen Saeed reiterated that no security institution including Sindh Rangers have demanded student records from Karachi University.
Major General Saeed said that as an intensive operation is underway against the militant group the paramilitary cannot share further information about the group.
He said that as many as seven members of the group have been arrested and according to the initial investigation the militant group was limited only to Karachi.
The paramilitary chief urged parents to keep an eye on the activities of their children as parents of the two group members had no idea of what activities their son was involved in. He added that the teachers must take into account why students are being attracted towards radical ideas.
Though “accidently” busted, the newly formed Ansarul Shariah Pakistan (ASP) terror outfit can’t be equated with Islamic State-Inspired Youth Network of Karachi, disclosed a senior police official, The Frontier Post reported two days back which was confirmed by DG Rangers.
“Though several members of the group have obtained military training from Afghanistan they were never capable for carrying out any violent act, except target killing” told a security source, adding that the way Hasaan, one of the group members, failed to escape and got killed speaks volume of the group’s incapability.
Most of the claims by Ansarul Shariah Pakistan have also turned out to be fake, especially its claim of terrorist acts in Quetta, Hub, Chaghi and other parts of Balochistan.
According to reports Ansari is the group’s specialist in target killings and was called in for special assignments. He is also said to be a close associate of Sarosh Siddiqui, a senior leader of the group presently on the run from authorities.
Meanwhile, the detained leader of Ansar ul-Sharia Pakistan (ASP) Dr Abdullah Hashmi – who was arrested on Tuesday night – and detained parents of other terrorists have made startling disclosures. According to Intelligence sources the arrested chief of ASP has told interrogators that he formed ASP in 2015 and contracted Abdullah Baloch of Al Qaeda for annexing his outfit with international terror organization but Baloch advised him to continue working independently.
Abdullah Baloch remained in Karachi during 2012 before he escaped a raid and went to Afghanistan. According to Hashmi his group is comprised of around 12 highly qualified youths from Karachi University, NED University and Dawood University of Engineering and Technology.
All members of the group, Hashmi reported told interrogators, had obtained military training from Afghanistan.
