Seven terrorists arrested in Pak; explosives seized

Seven suspected terrorists belonging to banned Jaish-e-Mohammed and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen outfits were on Monday arrested from this eastern Pakistani city and police seized 22 kg of explosives and sophisticated weapons from them.

Seven suspected terrorists belonging to banned Jaish-e-Mohammed and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen outfits were on Monday arrested from this eastern Pakistani city and police seized 22 kg of explosives and sophisticated weapons from them.

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The Crime Investigation Agency said five alleged terrorists -- Karim Baksh, Abdur Rehman alias Mana, Muhammad Younas alias Mansoor, Ejaz Mehmood and Shafaqat Farooqi alias Moawia -- were taken into custody from Shera Kot inter-change.

Police later raided a house on Bund Road and arrested two more men identified as Muhammad Shahzad and Hafiz Muhammad Ejaz alias Ejaz Moawia.

During preliminary interrogation, the suspects said they had been trained in using weapons, explosives, time bombs, mines, rocket launchers and missiles at five camps in Pakistan's tribal belt and Afghanistan.

Police officials said Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan commanders had sent the arrested terrorists in groups with explosives to carry out suicide attacks. The would-be-bombers wanted to target important political personalities and installations in Lahore, they said.

Cities across Pakistan have witnessed a wave of deadly bombings and suicide attacks since the army launched an operation against the Taliban in the northwestern Swat valley and nearby areas.