RAWALPINDI: Amin al-Haq, a close aide of Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden (OBL), has been arrested in Gujrat, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) announced Friday, marking a significant breakthrough.
“The terrorist was apprehended during an intelligence-based operation,” said DIG CTD Usman Akram Gonadal, adding that he was taken into custody in Sarai Alamgir, a town in the Gujrat district.
Associated with bin Laden since 1996, the CTD noted that Haq was among the top fighters of the extremist group and had been involved in several terrorist activities.
Haq — who was responsible for coordinating security for the deceased Al-Qaeda chief — has also been designated as a terrorist by the United Nations.
The high-ranking officer stated that a case had been registered against Haq, noting that the authorities would investigate what a high-profile terrorist was doing in Pakistan.
“He was seen in Afghanistan in 2021. He also possesses a Pakistani ID card, which includes addresses in Lahore and Haripur,” the CTD officer added.
According to CTD officials, the arrested terrorist was present in Afghanistan in April 2024; further investigation is expected to reveal important details.
The United Nations Security Council’s website indicates that Haq, born in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province in 1960, was designated as a terrorist on January 25, 2001.
In 2011, U.S. troops conducted a raid on bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and killed the global terrorist, who was also involved in the deadly 9/11 attacks.
