Pakistan Arrests Five Suspected Militants
Police arrested five suspected members of an outlawed Islamic militant group that has been blamed for killing Shiite Muslims and the kidnap-slaying of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, officials said Monday. The suspected Lashkar-e-Jhangvi members were picked up during raids in Multan, about 390 miles south of Islamabad, over the past week, said Hamid Mukhtar Gondal, a senior superintendent of police in the city. Gondal said two of the men were senior leaders of the group and one of them was wanted in the killing of eight policemen in attacks in Multan in 1999 and 2000. Police said they also found a "hit list" with the names of several Shiite Muslims, including a cleric and businessman from Multan. They also seized weapons and grenades. The leaders were identified as Abdul Majeed and Shahabuddin. Both are suspected of involvement in attacks on Shiite Muslims, who are a minority in Pakistan.
Posted by: Steve 2003-06-23 |