'JuD' man held for terror plot on foreign dignitaries in Pakistan

Lahore, Jul 24: Pakistani authorities today claimed to have foiled a terror attack on a famous private club here frequented by foreign dignitaries and arrested an active member of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's JuD.

Mohammad Din was planning to attack the Royal Palm Golf Club targetting the foreign dignitaries visiting it and had dug a tunnel to reach the club, Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department Superintendent of Police Maroof Safdar told reporters. The club is located in Mughalpura area of the city.

"Din had dug a six-foot-long tunnel in his house to reach the club. His house was located some 100 feet from the wall of the club," Safdar said. He added that Din has been associated with Jamaat-ud- Dawah (JuD) since 1994 and got militant training in Afghanistan.

Din's arrest raises serious questions about JuD's alleged links with the militant organisations. Literature related to the Islamic State and a laptop has been recovered from his possession and a case has been registered against the accused under terrorism charges.

The Counter Terrorism Department and intelligence officials are interrogating him. "We are also raiding the whereabouts of the accomplices of the accused," he said.

The JuD, in a statement, denied Din was its member. "Din had never been associated with JuD," it claimed.

PTI