KARACHI  - Rangers on Wednesday raided Siddiq-e-Akber Mosque, the headquarters of Ahle Sunnnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), and arrested a key leader. 

Sohaib Nadeem, son of outlawed Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) leader Maulana Abdul Ghaffor Nadeem, was taken into custody in a raid. AWSJ spokesperson said Sohaib voluntarily turned himself into Rangers’ personnel when the latter came to arrest him. 

“We have already asked the Rangers to take anyone into custody if they want,” ASWJ spokesperson said. 

Sohaib Nadeem is a chief of ASWJ for District Central. His father Maulana Abdul Ghaffor Nadeem was central leader of the SSP, which, later, was renamed as ASWJ. Maulana had been gunned down by unidentified gunmen in March 2010 in Nazimabad when he was on his way to the city courts along with his two sons. 

His son, Mavia, lost his life in the attack while another son, Rashid Nadeem, was wounded. Even after the passage of several hours, no official statement has been issued by the Rangers about the reason of his detention. 

Sources, however, said that Sohaib had been taken into custody for questioning him over sectarian violence.  

Sohaib is the second leader of the ASWJ, who has been put in lock-up in recent days as earlier Maulana Taj Hanafi had been detained by the Rangers, who is currently imprisoned for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). 

Separately, Baldia Town police claimed to have arrested three suspects during a targeted operation in Ittehad Town. The suspects were Tanvir Ali, Saeed and Sarfraz. 

SHO Shakil Sherwani said that the suspects were apprehended during the targeted operation against the drug peddlers and criminals.  

Similarly, two more suspects were arrested by police patrolling in Saeedabad. 

They were later identified as Kashif and Yaqoob. Weapons were also recovered from their possession.