Pak security forces arrest 24 terror suspects

PTI

Islamabad: Pakistani security forces arrested over 24 terror suspects during operations in different parts of the country while the body of a Taliban commander was found in the restive northwestern Swat valley.

Eighteen militants were apprehended during search and clearance operations by security forces in different parts of Swat.

Five militants also surrendered to authorities in the region, the military said.

Meanwhile, the body of militant commander Maulvi Muhammad Zareen was found in Kalam area of Swat. It was not clear who had killed him.

Local elders handed over the body to his kin for burial.

The bodies of dozens of militants have been found in Swat over the past few weeks.

Rights groups have alleged that security forces were carrying out extra-judicial killing of militants though the army has dismissed the charge.

In Waziristan tribal region, troops captured two Afghan suspects and seized a cache of arms and ammunition in Razmak sector.

Security forces also cleared 50 militant-held compounds and bunkers in this area.

The military said a "large number of suspects" were captured during search and clearance operations at different places in Jandola sector.

The police arrested four militants and seized four suicide jackets and a large amount of explosives from them at Mianwali in northwest Punjab.

The policemen initially nabbed a suspect from Gulberg Chowk and recovered documents and videos of suicide bombings from him.

Acting on information provided by the suspect, three of his accomplices were arrested later.

Explosive materials, ball bearings, suicide jackets, CDs, cell phones, documents and maps were recovered from their possession, the police said.

The officials said the four men were apparently planning to carry out terrorist attacks during the Islamic month of Muharram.

The period has been marked by tensions between Sunnis and Shias in past years.