BANNU (MNN); The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Thursday conducted an intelligence-based operation in Pipal Bazaar, arresting a most-wanted terrorist identified as Osama alias Baghi.
According to Bannu CTD Superintendent of Police Fazal Wahid, the suspect is a resident of Bannu and an active commander of the recently formed Ittehadul Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), an outfit said to have emerged from a collaboration between the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Gul Bahadur group.
During initial interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to involvement in nine major terrorist incidents. These include the December 2025 attack on Miranshah Assistant Commissioner Shah Wali Khan, in which the officer, two security guards and a civilian were killed.
Police said Osama also admitted to abducting and killing former Bannu SHO Abid Wazir in November 2025, as well as the kidnapping and murder of three members of the Lakki Marwat peace committee.
The SP further stated that the suspect confessed to kidnapping two Frontier Corps personnel and police officials from Pipal Daud Shah. He was also allegedly involved in the June 2024 killing of a polio officer and his guard in Mamand Khel.
Initial investigations suggest the suspect carried out reconnaissance of sensitive installations and provided confidential photographs and information about police personnel to militant groups. He also admitted to setting up illegal checkpoints in Pipal Bazaar and surrounding areas to harass civilians.
Further investigations are underway, and raids are being conducted to apprehend his facilitators and accomplices.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police and Additional Inspector General CTD praised the team for the successful operation, calling it a significant step toward restoring peace in the region.
In a separate operation, Domel police arrested two terrorists along with three facilitators. District Police Officer Yasir Afridi said the suspects were involved in sniper attacks at Nala Kashu and Police Post Khonia Khel, where two police personnel were injured.
