Anti Extremist Cell (AEC) of Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Friday claimed to have arrested masterminds of the Abbas Town blast and recovered arms and explosives materials from their possession. Addressing a news conference at his office, SSP CID Mohammad Aslam Khan said on a tipoff, police party raided Sultanabad area of Manghopir and nabbed three notorious criminals namely Aslam Mehsood, Abbas Khan, Rasool Khan and Ali Zaman involved in masterminding Abbas Town blast and other terrorist activities in the city.
He said the arrested accused had affiliation with banned Tehreek Taliban Pakistan - Khan Zaman Group. SSP Aslam said Aslam Mehsood Ustad had fled to Waziristan and was arrested upon his arrival in Karachi. During the initial course of investigation, SSP Aslam khan revealed, Mehsood confessed to masterminding the Abbas Town blast. "Terrorist Aslam Mehsood is also the in-charge of TTP (Khan Zaman Group) armed wing," he added. He said accused Aslam Khan used to provide explosives material laden vehicles for terrorist activities in the city.
The SSP said Mehsood had also arranged the vehicle and explosives material used in the deadly blast in Abbas Town that claimed dozens of lives. He said the accused had planned to target Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, MQM Headquarters Nine Zero and the US Embassy. Police also recovered 125 kilograms of explosives material, one Kalashnikov, 8 hand grenades and 3 TT pistols from their possession. The CID has also registered cases again them and started further investigation.