 Pakistani intelligence agencies and security forces have netted down another local alleged Al-Qaeda operative in an eastern city, said sources on Monday. Osama bin Yusuf, 33, was arrested on Sunday in Sargodha Road area of eastern Faisalabad city, about 350 kilometers from Islamabad, where he had been operating a Public Call Office (PCO), security sources told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).| Public Call Office, does this mean he's the guy in the neighborhood with a phone, which he lets people use for a fee? |
The sources said that Osama was traced down through a telephone call, which he made to another Al-Qaeda suspect. They added that several Al-Qaeda suspects have reportedly stayed at his house and left after getting instructions in code words through Osamas PCO from their leaders. Sources said further that he is a resident of north-western Abbottabad city, around 200 kilometers from Islamabad, and member of an outlawed militant group, Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LJ). They said that forces recovered 12 wireless telephone sets, a diary, and a notebook from his possession. The source also said that Osama has contacts with Hashim Qadeer Khan, another Al-Qaeda suspect involved in Daniel Pearl murder case, arrested in Gujranwala last week. Authorities said that they have shifted Osama at some unknown location and are interrogating him.
The Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao confirming the arrest said that he was wanted in several terrorist activities. The minister said that authorities are determining his links with Al-Qaeda terror group and some militant group. |