Lahore, Jul 1 (PTI) A Pakistani court has sentenced two members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to five-year rigorous imprisonment each for possessing explosive material, an official said on Wednesday.
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Lahore Judge Malik Abid Hussain announced the verdict on Tuesday.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police arrested TTP activists — Abdul Baais and Kaleemullah — last year during raids at their residences in the city.
According to the court official, the prosecution presented evidence related to the recovery of explosive material from both accused. It also provided proof of their links with the TTP.
“In light of the evidence presented in the court, the ATC judge awarded a five-year rigorous
jail term to each of them. He also ordered the confiscation of the properties of both convicts,” the official said.
Following the ouster of Imran Khan’s government, the truce between the Pakistani government and the TTP officially ended in November, 2022.
The militant group declared the termination of an indefinite ceasefire agreed to earlier that year and instructed its fighters to resume attacks across the country.
The TTP had accused the Pakistani military and intelligence agencies of continuing operations and raids against their fighters in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, despite the ongoing peace talks.
Since the end of the truce, the TTP has intensified attacks in Pakistan, while the security agencies are also targeting its hideouts both in Pakistan and Afghanistan. PTI MZ AMS
