KARACHI: The paramilitary force – Rangers and the Counter-Terrorism Department of the Sindh police on Monday claim to have arrested at least eight suspected criminals including a hardcore militant of a banned militant outfit. The suspects were arrested during raids and operations in different parts of a metropolis. They were accused of being involved in various cases of crime and terrorism including target killings, wall chalking, extortion, robberies, and facilitating terrorism. According to Rangers spokesperson, Saeedul Hassan alias China and Syed Omar Aijaz alias Omar alias Maaz alias Musab, Saleem alias Chosni, Furqan alias Shooter, Abu Bakar, Ibrahim alias Hyderi, Sikandar and Asif Pathan have been apprehended in the operation. Saeed ul Hassan and Syed Omar Aijaz were arrested from Jackson and Civil Lines. The Rangers spokesperson has claimed that the accused persons were affiliated with al-Qaeda Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), adding that the accused persons were involved in attacks on police and Rangers check posts in Nazimabad and Gulshan-e-Iqbal. When contacted over the claims of arrest of accused Aijaz by Rangers and CTD from different places, CTD in-charge Mashwani said that the accused was arrested in a joint venture by Rangers and CTD, however, Rangers spokesperson said that the arrest was made following the intelligence based information. The accused Saleem alias Chosni was affiliated with the militant wing of a political party and has been involved in various cases of extortion and wall chalking. The accused persons Furqan and Abu Bakar arrested from Nazimabad and Pak Colony area were involved in target killings and extortion activities. Accused Ibrahim and Sikandar were involved in lifting of motorcycles’ and cellphone snatching whowere arrested from Nazimabad while Asif Pathan was arrested from Lyari and was involved in various cases of crime. The Rangers spokesperson said that arms and ammunition were also recovered from their possession.