Noose tightens around Fazlullah: Muslim Khan is singing like a canary

[LahoreEstate]

By our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Highly informed sources told The News that the dragnet around Maulana Fazlullah and his band of close associates has really been tightened and his arrest, or elimination, at the hands of security forces could happen within the next 24 hours.

According to a source, captured Taliban leader Muslim Khan is singing like a canary and has reportedly pinpointed a couple of most secret hiding dens of his commander. The source also indicated that the ‘arrest’ of Muslim Khan may well be a negotiated surrender with security forces giving it the cover of being an arrest to retain Muslim Khanís credibility and protect his near and dear ones from Fazlullahís deadly reprisal against any perceived act of betrayal.

According to another highly reliable source, Muslim Khan, had been of late trying to broker a deal through certain elements whereby his life would be spared in lieu of his spilling beans leading to the arrest or killing of Fazlullah and some of his other top commanders.

APP adds: eight militants, including three Afghans, were killed and nine others sustained injuries, while a security personnel embraced Shahadat in the ongoing operation Rah-e-Rast, said a media update of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Five terrorists were killed and nine others apprehended in a search operation in Smater area near Banjot. A soldier also embraced Shahadat, while another sustained injuries in an exchange of fire with the militants in the area, the ISPR said.

During a search operation in Chinar area, security forces killed three Afghan terrorists, it added. Two terrorists were apprehended in Bandai village near Khwazakhela and two others voluntarily surrendered in Barshaur and Uzbak Banda.

During search operations in Qambar, Kuza Bandai and Nao, seven suspects were apprehended and 10 others voluntarily surrendered to security forces in Kala Killay and Gul Jabba near Kabal.

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