Hazrat Ali’s (RA) martyrdom day termed ‘most sensitive’

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

* Intelligence reports claim terrorists planning to strike on aforementioned day to spread sectarian violence across province

By Shahnawaz Khan

LAHORE: Intelligence agencies declared the martyrdom day of Hazrat Ali (RA) the most sensitive across the country, especially in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan, with regards to the ongoing wave of terrorism, sources told Daily Times on Sunday, adding that reports had been forwarded to the authorities concerned in this regard.

The sources said that intelligence personnel, in their reports, had mentioned that some of the terrorist groups could use the martyrdom day to spread sectarian violence in the province.

They said that terrorist groups had earlier planned terrorism activities during the holy month of Ramazan that were delayed due to the flood and later again delayed due to the occurrence of a severe clash between groups of local Taliban and the Punjabi Taliban in the South Waziristan area of Dandy Darpa Khail.

The sources said that intelligence personnel, in their reports, expressed the fear that terrorist groups could now carry out any activity in the aforementioned cities to create sectarian violence in the province.

They claimed that the confessions of arrested terrorists during investigations also supported the intelligence reports, adding that during investigation, several arrested terrorists had confessed about terrorist plans during the holy months of Ramazan and Moharram to spread sectarian violence in the province.

The sources said the arrested terrorists had disclosed that their cohorts could also start a wave of target killings in which they would target people of different schools of thought, besides a campaign of suicide bombings and other terrorist activities.

“The arrested terrorists had also disclosed that in the provincial capital alone, of eight groups were operating individually who were later brought together following the decision of their elders. These groups had completed their basic homework and were waiting for the right time to act,” the sources said, adding that following the revelation of the arrested terrorists, several teams consisting of personnel of different law enforcement agencies had not only arrested more terrorist, but also recovered several other ‘items’ related to terrorist activities, including maps.

The sources said that the apprehensions of intelligence personnel had been forwarded to the authorities concerned across the province. “Following which, the provincial authorities have take several steps to avoid any unpleasant incident and a special operation for the arrest of terrorists is also under process,” they said.