Maulana Masood Azhar may have been arrested from Sindh rather than South Punjab as reported in media; Sindh govt decides to launch province-wide crackdown against JeM
Contrary to official reports, the law enforcement agencies may have arrested Jaish-e-Muhammad Chief Maulana Masood Azhar from Karachi, rather than Bahawalpur in Punjab. Nevertheless, the Sindh government is gearing up for a crackdown against the banned outfit across the province.
While official accounts as well as reports in the media indicate that JeM Chief Mualana Masood Azhar was arrested from Bahawalpur in Southern Punjab, this scribe has learnt that Azhar was taken into custody during a raid on his residence in North Nazimabad, Karachi. The security officials also took his younger brother Abdur Rauf Azhar into custody. No resistance was offered during the raid and arrest.
Per details, a heavy contingent of security officials raided a house located near Jamia Masjid Bat’haa, in North Nazimabad. They entered the house and took Masood Azhar and Rauf Azhar into custody. Sources told this scribe that the security officials also investigated other brothers and family members of Azhar during the raid.
CRACKDOWN AGAINST JAISH:
Following the decision of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif of taking action against JeM, the Sindh government has also decided to launch a crackdown against the banned outfit.
The Ministry of Interior has also issued directives to the provincial government of Sindh to initiate a crackdown against JeM. Following the directives, the Sindh government has decided to trace and seal the offices of JeM across the province.
Earlier, a high-level meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Sharif and attended by General Raheel Sharif, reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to cooperate with India on the Pathankot airbase attack incident.
Per details, the province-wide crackdown against JeM will be led by Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Special Branch of Sindh Police. The government has also decided to strictly watch the persons placed in the fourth schedule. The Sindh government has directed the officials concerned to trace the offices of JeM in the province and to seal them till further orders.
However, a high-ranking Karachi police official, when asked to verify this information, replied that he had no information in this regard. Requesting anonymity he maintained that he had not received any orders of crackdown against JeM as yet.