A close associate of Hakimullah Mehsud, chief of banned outfit Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and another six have been arrested in Peshawar, sources said on Tuesday. Mehsud’s close associate, “Hakeem”, was arrested along with six other extremists from Peshawar’s Hayatabad phase VI area, the sources said. Four detained commanders of the banned outfit, including Hakeem, were on the wanted list and their real names have not been disclosed yet. Hakeem was the sub-commander of TTP’s Peshawar region. Hakeem, along with his associates, was involved in kidnapping of high profile personalities. His gang was involved in the abduction of Professor Ajmal, Afghan counsel general Khalid Farahi and Iranian commercial attaché Hashim Atharzade, according to sources. Meanwhile, in a similar raid in Abbottabad, police have arrested and registered cases of kidnapping for ransom against three members of the TTP.
