SAHIWAL – An anti-terrorism court on Friday sentenced a militant of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to 31 years in prison. Ashiqullah Mahsood, a resident of Ladha Shaktoai in South Waziristan, was arrested by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) officials from village 87/9-L of Sahiwal on July 24.
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During the operation, the CTD recovered 1,818 grams of explosive material, electronic devices, cables, detonators, prima cards, an iron box, and Rs5,000 cash. The accused was booked under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and Sections 4/5 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, following a complaint by Muhammad Anees.
In a separate incident, a youth and his three female cousins were reportedly kidnapped by unknown armed men near village 186/9-L on the Harappa Bypass on Thursday evening. The victims – Ramzan (21), Khursheed Rani (18), Humera Bibi (16), and Zainib Bibi (12) – were returning home on a motorcycle after visiting their aunt.
According to police, three armed men intercepted their motorcycle, forced them into a car, and fled with the victims and the vehicle. The Dera Rahim Police registered a kidnapping case based on a complaint by their maternal uncle, Suleman Khan. Initial investigations suggest the abduction may be linked to a family dispute.
Meanwhile, Pakpattan Qaboola Police claimed to have arrested three members of an inter-district drug trafficking gang, seizing 25 kilograms of hashish. The suspects – Afzal, Shan, and Allah Rakha – were allegedly involved in smuggling narcotics to Vehari, Sahiwal, and Okara. Authorities registered three separate cases against them.
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These incidents highlight ongoing security and law enforcement challenges in the Sahiwal district, spanning militancy, abduction, and drug trafficking.