ISLAMABAD: Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) Rawalpindi President Mufti Tanvir Alam Farooqui was taken into custody by Rangers along with eight gunmen, including a police constable on Wednesday. The arrest took place after illegal weapons were recovered from them.

The joint patrolling team of police and Rangers intercepted a double cabin pickup at a picket. ASWJ Rawalpindi president Farooqui was travelling in the pickup with gunmen.

The men were asked to show licences for their weapons which they were unable to produce. It was also revealed that one of the gunmen was a police constable and carrying official submachine gun (SMG) along with two magazines.

The remaining weapons included two SMGs, one 12-bore repeater and two 9MM pistols. ASWJ spokesman Hafiz Onaib confirmed that Farooqui was arrested along with his gunmen. He said Mufti has survived three assassination attempts and the police had been unable to provide him security despite requests.—Staff Reporter