Photo released by Pakistan's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Aug. 12, 2015 shows face-covered arrested terrorists in southern Pakistani port city of Karachi. Security forces have busted a "foreign-sponsored gang" and foiled a terror bid planned to sabotage Independence Day celebrations in Karachi, officials said on Wednesday. (Xinhua/ISPR)
ISLAMABAD, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Security forces in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi have foiled a bid to sabotage the forthcoming August 14th Independence Day celebrations by arresting five militants, an army statement said Wednesday.
Inter-Services Public Relations, the mouthpiece of Pakistani army, said in the statement that the forces have busted a foreign sponsored gang, who had been planning to target the Independence Day celebration in Karachi for quite some time and had also prepared an explosive laden vehicle and a motorbike for this purpose.
The arrested militants confessed during the interrogation that they arranged the vehicles from Karachi and planted explosive materials on them.
They said that they were waiting for suicide bombers who had to arrive from Afghanistan, and a Karachi-based Taliban chief from northwest Swat district is also currently visiting Afghanistan for the same purpose.
The arrested militants include some high value targets including Tehrik-i-Taliban Swat chapter's deputy chief.
After a tip-off, the security agencies had been monitoring the activities of the group for many weeks. The security forces also launched simultaneous operations in Karachi and neighboring Hyderabad city on August 9th to arrest culprits.
The forces have taken the explosive laden Hi-Roof and the motorbike into their custody.
