Police arrest dentist with alleged links with Al Qaeda, Safoora attackers

KARACHI: A case was lodged on Sunday against a dentist, who was arrested last night by police and law enforcement agencies for his alleged links with Al Qaeda and attackers of Safoora carnage, under the provisions of possessing illegal weapons and facilitating terrorists.

The suspect, identified as Usman, was arrested during a clash with the police in Saddar area of the city late on Saturday while ammunition including a Kalashnikov was also recovered from his possession.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) South Dr Farooq, the suspect was a dentist by profession and in contact with Al-Qaeda’s Indian Subcontinent chapter for the last six years.

The suspect used to collect and fund the outlawed organization extortion monies in amounts of 200,000 to 300,000 rupees a month.

Police officials said the arrested terrorist was also in contact with the prime suspect of Safoora incident, Saad Aziz.

Aziz is one of the five main accused, who has been in police custody for the past few months.

At least 45 people, including women and children, belonging to the Ismaili community were brutally massacred when armed terrorists had opened indiscriminate fire inside a bus near Safoora Chowrangi, Karachi in May, 2015.

An interrogation from the terrorist in regards to the funding was underway in which Dentist Usman’s mobile phone data was also being checked.