Rawalpindi blast: Former Pak official detained

A former official of Pakistan's foreign office with links to the Shia group Tehrik-e-Islami has been detained by security agencies for his alleged connections with terrorists who carried out a suicide attack on a mosque in Rawalpindi frequented by military personnel. Raja Ehsan Aziz was picked up after two women members of the group were detained by security agencies, The News daily reported on Thursday.

Sarwat Wahid, another member of the group whose son's car was allegedly used by militants who targeted the mosque on December 4, and her son are reportedly missing, it said.

Aziz, a graduate of Columbia University who served in senior positions in the foreign office, is a retired professor of the Quaid-e-Azam University. His son is an army officer. He was picked up from his home in Islamabad on Wednesday by sleuths of a counter-terrorism unit, his wife Amira Aziz said.

Phool Zeb, Aziz's driver, too was arrested as investigators found a mobile phone SIM allegedly used by terrorists who attacked the mosque in Rawalpindi and Moon Market in Lahore.

Over 100 people, including a serving major general of the army, were killed in these two attacks. This is the second time Aziz has been detained by security agencies, though his wife denied he had links with any terror groups.

"I'm a sworn enemy of America and can pay any price for it, but I strongly oppose terrorism within Pakistan," Amira said.

Sarwat Wahid reportedly fled from Islamabad to Karachi after learning that investigators were looking for her. Authorities in Karachi have reportedly detained her sister and children to pressure Wahid to surrender to authorities.