KARACHI: Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Sindh police on Monday claimed to have arrested at least three suspected militants belonging to different militant outfits during separate raids in parts of of the metropolis. According to the CTD officials suspects were affiliated with the banned militant outfits including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Daesh and sectarian based militant outfit – Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. “The arrested militants belonged to TTP, Daesh and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and they had planned to carry out a major terrorist activity in the city before Eid. However, we have foiled their possible terror activity,” CTD Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Junaid Shaikh told the media while addressing a press conference in his office. The militants arrested were identified as Shahsawar, Mujeebur Rehman and Khalid Pervez. Their arrests were made during separate raids in Jubilee and Sultanabad areas. CTD SSP Junaid Shaikh told the media that the suspects were getting involved in collection of the donations for their militant outfits during the holy month of Ramadan. The accused Mujeebur Rehman had also been arrested by the CTD in the past, however, he rejoined the militant outfit after getting released from the jail. “The accused besides getting involved in collection of the donations was also involved in brainwashing the youth of the area with the purpose of recruiting them in Lashkar-e-Jhangvi,” claimed the CTD officials. The accused Shahsawar was a government high school teacher before he joined the TTP. He reportedly joined the TTP on the offer of the former chief of the Taliban Baitullah Mehsud. According to the CTD, the suspect had been involved in attacks on the NATO forces. He had also remained a member of the Taliban Shura. According to the CTD officials, the accused Shahsawar confessed his crimes during interrogations. The CTD informed the media that the suspect confessed that he attacked the NATO forces. CTD officials said that other suspects have also confessed their crimes. According to the police, cases have been registered against the suspects and further investigation was underway. Published in Daily Times, June 12th 2018.