Six arrested for Qaeda link

MULTAN/PESHAWAR: Police arrested six militants in separate raids for allegedly sheltering Al Qaeda fugitives and planning rocket attacks against the army, police and security officials said Friday.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said three of the suspects were captured this week in Multan. The three are said to be members of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.

The officials said that Ali Sher, Hafiz Ijaz Ahmed and Pir Muhammad Jamil were captured this week during a raid in Multan.

“I confirm that these people sheltered some Arab Al Qaeda men in recent months. They are in our custody and we are questioning them,” one security official said.

During the raid they seized some compact discs and a diary that contained names and telephone numbers of some Al Qaeda figures, another security official said.

“We are 101 percent certain that they have been working for Al Qaeda. They have been helping and sheltering Al Qaeda terrorists,” the second official said.

When contacted, Divisional Police Officer Multan Sikandar Hayat said he could not confirm or deny the arrest of the three Hizbul Mujahideen activists.

AP adds: The three other suspects, alleged members of an outlawed militant group, were seized in the NWFP on Thursday for planning rocket attacks against an army facility in Bannu, police said.

“We also seized four rockets, some guns and detonators from a house they were hiding in,” said Abid Ali, police chief in Bannu, who accused the three of being members of the Jaish Mohammed militant group. Pakistan has outlawed several militant groups that support Al Qaeda, and its security agencies have arrested more than 700 Al Qaeda men after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. staff report

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