PESHAWAR: Following the apprehension of two potential bombers intending to target Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Awami National Party chief Aimal Wali Khan, the JUI-F conveyed its concerns to relevant authorities, including the top electoral body, regarding terrorist threats to its leadership.
Consequently, the party has urged that security for the JUI-F leadership be heightened during the upcoming election campaign.
A senior official from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police informed the media that they had not yet received specific instructions to provide security for a particular individual. However, security measures had been intensified for those deemed to be at risk.
The senior police officer mentioned that the JUI-F leadership had approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seeking additional security following the arrest of two would-be bombers planning to target leaders of JUI and ANP. He also stated that adequate security had been extended to the leadership of other political parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
On January 3, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police issued a security advisory and threat alert to former federal minister for communications, Maulana Asad Mahmood, advising him to remain vigilant and restrict his movements. The advisory noted possible terrorist attacks on Maulana Asad or his residence and suggested avoiding public gatherings and unnecessary travel while keeping his movements discreet.
On January 12, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested two alleged would-be suicide bombers who were dispatched to attack Fazlur Rehman and Aimal Wali Khan.
An official from the CTD informed reporters that both terrorists were apprehended during separate operations on the outskirts of Peshawar. The seized items included two suicide jackets, hand grenades, 9mm pistols, and literature related to terrorism.
The arrested terrorists were identified as Adil Khan from Matani and Tahir Khan from Landikotal. According to the official, they were members of Daesh and received training across the border in Paktia, Afghanistan, in June 2023.
He added, “They had planned to carry out attacks on senior politicians, and for that reason, the held terrorists had visited the Mufti Mahmood Markaz in Peshawar several times to gather information about the routes and schedules of politicians.”
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
