The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has arrested Mir Khan Muhammad, a close associate of the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) operative Dr Usman Qazi, in a major operation against the network dubbed Fitna al-Hindustan. According to security sources, the arrested suspect studied law at the International Islamic University before joining government service as a prosecutor inspector in Balochistan. Investigations have revealed his active involvement in facilitating terrorists and engaging in anti-state activities.
CTD officials confirmed that interrogation of the suspect is underway, during which he has already confessed to facilitating multiple terrorist operations. His arrest is considered a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle the BLA’s network and its facilitators.
The arrest comes weeks after intelligence agencies received reports in late July that BLA terrorists were planning large-scale attacks in Quetta and other districts of Balochistan from the beginning of August. Acting on these inputs, law enforcement agencies launched a coordinated strategy to foil the plots.
On August 11, security forces apprehended a suicide bomber in Quetta who, during initial interrogation, revealed that he had been prepared for the attack by Dr Usman Qazi, a professor at BUITEMS University. The bomber’s disclosures led to a follow-up operation in which Dr Qazi himself was arrested from Afnaan Town.
Following his arrest, Dr Qazi confessed to his links with the banned BLA and admitted to facilitating multiple terrorist acts. With the latest arrest of his close associate Mir Khan Muhammad, authorities believe they have significantly weakened the terror facilitation network.
Law enforcement agencies have reiterated their resolve that no facilitator or handler of Fitna al-Hindustan will be spared, and that operations will continue across the province until the complete dismantling of terrorist networks is ensured.
