LAHORE: In a major breakthrough, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab announced on Friday the arrest of Amin al-Haq, a prominent aide to Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden.
According to DIG CTD Usman Akram Gonadal, al-Haq was apprehended in Sarai Alamgir, a town in the Gujrat district, during a targeted intelligence-based operation. Al-Haq, an Afghan national, is listed as a terrorist by the United Nations. The CTD reported that al-Haq has also obtained a Pakistani ID card, with addresses in Lahore and Haripur.
Al-Haq, who has been associated with bin Laden since 1996, was a key figure in Al-Qaeda and involved in various terrorist activities, including coordinating security for bin Laden. Despite being designated as a terrorist by the UN in January 2001, he was reportedly seen in Afghanistan as recently as 2021.
The CTD has initiated an investigation into his activities and presence in Pakistan, raising questions about how such a high-profile terrorist managed to acquire Pakistani identification and remain in the country.