Peshawar: A wanted terrorist and 55 suspects including illegal Afghan nationals were arrested today in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in anti-terror raids launched ahead of the first anniversary of Peshawar School Massacre.
The raids in Peshawar’s Haji Camp area by the Counter Terrorism Department were launched to avoid any untoward incident as the provincial government is preparing to commemorate the first anniversary of the December 16 attack, according to the police.
Zahir Shah alias Badshah, the founder of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Darra Adam Khel, was wanted by the security forces for his involvement in at least eight terror attacks, police said.
Law enforcement agencies said they arrested 55 suspects including illegal Afghan nationals during the crackdown in surrounding areas of the Army Public School in Peshawar which was attacked last year by the Taliban militants who had killed over 150 people mostly children.
At least 600 houses were searched and 20 illegal Afghan nationals among 55 suspects were arrested. The police also claimed to have recovered some lethal weapons and ammunition from the possession of suspects.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced a public holiday on December 16 and decided to arrange special programs in province in order to remember the innocent lives lost in the attack last year.