Pak Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud’s aide arrested in Karachi
By ANIWednesday, February 23, 2011
KARACHI - Pakistani police have reportedly arrested five militants, including a close aide of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Baitullah Mehsud and a Lashkar-e-Jhangvi member, in Karachi.
According to the Daily Times, an Anti Extremists Cell (AEC) of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) arrested the alleged TTP member and recovered a TT pistol from his possession.
Sindh Police official Umar Shahid said on a tip-off, an AEC team conducted a raid at an area in Sohrab Goth, and arrested Alauddin Barki, who was named in CID’s Red Book List.
He said that other arrested criminals were involved in over 18 cases of robbery, kidnapping for ransom, police encounter and other crimes.
Mehsud had formed the TTP from an alliance of about five militant groups in December 2007.
He is thought by U.S. military analysts to have commanded up to 5,000 fighters, and to have been behind numerous terror attacks in Pakistan, including the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. (ANI)
