Pak agencies avert terror attacks by arresting suspects

Islamabad, Feb 23 (UNI) Pakistani law-enforcement agencies claimed to have averted four major terror attacks in different parts of the country with the arrest of 19 suspects.

These suspects being controlled by ''some people'' in the troubled tribal areas near the Afghan border, sources said.

The Dawn newspaper quoted an Interior Ministry official as saying that seven people had been arrested from Dera Ismail Khan town in the Northwestern Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 29. They were local Taliban and belonged to South Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan's Paktika province.

Meanwhile, 12 Afghan nationals were also arrested for suspected links with militants in Faisalabad on the same date, he added.

Meanwhile, apprehending terror attacks on Wednesday night, local administration had placed state-run hospitals on high alert.

In a similar move, the Foreign Office had asked the foreign diplomats and nationals to restrict their movements till further notice.

The official said that a countrywide terror alert, especially in Islamabad, had been issued after investigations revealed presence of some suicide bombers in various parts of the country. The terror threat level had not been lowered, he said.

He said that motels and hotels were being closely monitored to trace the remaining suspects, and airports, railway stations and bus terminals were under watch.

About the arrests in Dera Ismail Khan, he said the suspects had been brought here for interrogation, adding that explosive belts had been found from their possession, besides cellphones with videos of Taliban activities.

The official said during the interrogation, clues had been found to some potential suicide bombers who were arrested in Karachi, Sukkur and Hyderabad.

He said major terrorist attacks were also planned in Faisalabad, Bannu and Kohat between January 28 and January 30 but they were averted.

The official said that two unexploded rocket shells were seized in Bannu on January 28 and some hand-grenades and a large quantity of explosive material was seized on January 30.

An improvised explosive device was found from a place in Kohat on January 29, while two remote-controlled bombs were recovered from a railway crossing in Bannu near a mosque on January 30, he added.

After a threat issued by local Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud to avenge the January 16 air strike in Zamzola village of South Waziristan with severe attacks, a series of suicide bombings gripped the country killing more than 30 people.

At least 25 suspected militants had been killed in Zamzola air strike, who were allegedly undergoing militant training.

UNI