Updated on Sunday, November 01, 2009, 14:55 IST Tags:

Karachi: Pakistani police on Sunday claimed to have arrested a top Taliban leader along with two of his associates after a brief encounter with the security forces on the outskirts of this southern port city.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's Amir (chief) in Karachi Bahadur Khan Mohmmand and his associates Abid Hussain Shah and Qari Yasir were arrested yesterday, Central Investigation Department official Fayyaz Khan told reporters here.

Large quantity of explosives, arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession, he said.

Last week, the police claimed it had arrested the TTP head of Karachi Akhtar Zaman Mehsud and described it as a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism.

When asked how could police claim Bahadur was the amir of TTP in Karachi when they already arrested the TTP Karachi chief last week, Khan said, "You must understand that last week the person we arrested was the former amir of TTP in Karachi but this time we have nabbed the present head."

But despite Khan's explanation there is plenty of skeptics over the real identity of those arrested.

Another police official said that the three arrested yesterday were all trained in Waziristan tribal area and were based in Karachi to raise finances for the banned outfit.

"They were involved in extortion, kidnapping for ransom and bank robberies and other criminal activities in the city," he said.

Security agencies have been conducting raids in the city in the last few weeks after creditable information and threats of possible terrorist strikes in the city.

Bureau Report