Foiled Terror Attack on Adiala Jail Housing Imran Khan, Three Arrested

March 8, 2024 6:21 am

In a daring joint operation conducted on Wednesday night, Pakistan’s counter-terrorism department (CTD), working in collaboration with the Rawalpindi police, successfully thwarted a planned terrorist attack on Adiala Jail, where former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan is currently incarcerated.

The three suspected militants, believed to have crossed the border from Afghanistan, were apprehended during the operation. Authorities seized a cache of dangerous weapons, including hand grenades, automatic weapons, and explosives, along with a detailed map of the high-security prison. The arrested individuals were promptly taken to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.

Security forces have initiated a thorough search operation in and around Adiala Jail, a facility currently housing a number of prominent PTI leaders, including former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and ex-Chief Minister Pervez Elahi. The prison, notorious for being overcrowded with inmates twice its capacity, has recently been marred by incidents of violence.

Just last week, a tragic incident unfolded within the same jail premises, where an inmate killed a fellow prisoner and injured two others by attacking them with a brick while they were sleeping in their cell.

Amidst these security concerns, some PTI lawmakers have raised suspicions, alleging that both the recent “terror attack” attempt and the incident from the previous week were orchestrated by “powerful authorities,” implying a reference to the military. These lawmakers suggest that these incidents are intended to pressure Imran Khan into adopting a more flexible stance, particularly amidst the escalating political polarization gripping the nation.

As investigations into these events continue, the security apparatus remains on high alert to ensure the safety of both the inmates and the facility, underscoring the challenges faced by the authorities in maintaining security within Pakistan’s penal institutions during times of political tension.