PESHAWAR: After the CTD arrested two would-be assassins who were planning to attack Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Awami National Party chief Aimal Wali Khan, the JUI-F through a letter expressed concern over relevant authorities, including the highest electoral body, regarding threats to its leadership by terrorists.
The party therefore demanded that the security of the JUI-F leadership be beefed up during the election campaign, The News reported on Saturday.
A senior Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police official told the publication that they have not received any instructions to ensure the safety of a specific personality, however they have beefed up security for those facing any kind of threat.
A senior police officer said the JUI-F leadership had approached the ECP for increased security after two would-be bombers planning to attack JUI and ANP leaders were apprehended. The official said that adequate security was also provided to the leadership of other political parties in KP.
On January 3, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police issued a security alert and threat warning to former federal communications minister Maulana Asad Mahmood, asking him to remain on high alert and restrict his movements.
The advisory said there were reports of possible terrorist attacks on Fazl’s son Maulana Asad or his residence and advised him to avoid public gatherings and unnecessary travel, besides keeping his movements secret and restricted.
On January 12, the CTD arrested two alleged suicide bombers sent to attack Fazlur Rehman and Aimal Wali Khan.
A CTD official told reporters that the two terrorists were arrested in two separate operations from the outskirts of Peshawar. Two suicide vests, hand grenades, a 9mm pistol and literature related to terrorism were recovered from them.
The arrested terrorists were identified as Adil Khan of Matani and Tahir Khan of Landikotal. The official said the detained terrorists were members of Daesh and were trained across the border in Paktia, Afghanistan in June 2023.
“They were planning to attack senior politicians and that is why the detained terrorists visited Mufti Mahmood Markaz in Peshawar several times to know about the routes and schedule of the politicians,” he added.
Authorities last month alerted police across the country to further improve security for two senior politicians from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after threats to their lives were reported. Alerted to the threat, the chief secretaries and police chiefs of the provinces were asked to take adequate measures for the safety of Fazl and Aimal Wali Khan.
