An anti-terrorism court (ATC) has remanded three suspects, said to be affiliated with the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army’s (BLA) Majeed Brigade, in the custody of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) until January 24 in an explosives case.
The suspects -- Niaz Qadir alias Kanak, Hamdan and Jalil Ahmed alias Farid -- were recently arrested during an operation conducted by the CTD in coordination with intelligence agencies.
A Mazda truck loaded with explosives, including over 30 plastic drums, five metal gas cylinders, primer cards, various detonators, with explosive material weighing over 2,000 kilograms was seized.
CTD officials produced the held suspects before the administrative judge of the anti-terrorism courts (ATCs) and requested their physical remand for investigation. After hearing the investigating officer, the judge handed over the custody of the suspects to the CTD on physical remand until January 24 with a direction to the IO to produce them on expiry of their remand.
An FIR has been lodged against them under sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act read with Sections 7 and 21(i) of the Anti-Terrorism Act. According to the FIR, a house located on Hub River Road in Raees Goth was raided based on intelligence information. Accused Jalil alias Naveed was arrested during the operation, while his accomplices fled the scene. A mini truck inside the compound was found loaded with plastic drums and cylinders filled with explosives, connected to detonators and detonation cords.
Forensic analysis confirmed the explosive material weighed approximately 2,000 kilograms and was intended for terrorist activity in Karachi. According to CTD officials, the suspects were associated with the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army’s (BLA) Majeed Brigade outfit run by BLA Commander Bashir Zeb, who has also been nominated in the FIR.
