LAHORE: In a significant development, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab announced on Friday the arrest of Amin al-Haq, a close aide of Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden.
“The terrorist was apprehended during an intelligence-based operation,” stated DIG CTD Usman Akram Gonadal, adding that the arrest took place in Sarai Alamgir, a town in the Gujrat district.
Haq, who has been associated with bin Laden since 1996, is considered one of the top fighters of the extremist group and has been involved in numerous terrorist activities, according to the CTD.
Amin al-Haq was responsible for coordinating security for the deceased Al-Qaeda chief and has also been designated as a terrorist by the United Nations.
The high-ranking officer mentioned that a case has been registered against Haq, and authorities are investigating his presence in Pakistan.
“He was seen in Afghanistan in 2021. He also has Pakistan’s ID Card, which includes addresses in Lahore and Haripur,” the CTD officer added.
According to the United Nations Security Council’s website, Haq, born in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province in 1960, was designated as a terrorist on January 25, 2001.
In 2011, United States troops conducted a raid on bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and eliminated the global terrorist, who was also involved in the deadly 9/11 attacks.
