Pakistani security officials have arrested 22 members of a gang involved in attacking and torching Afghanistan-bound US and NATO supply containers, officials said today.
The paramilitary Frontier Corps arrested the suspects from the industrial city of Hub in the troubled southwestern Balochistan province, they said.
"The suspected militants, including some members of the Lyari gang, were arrested from Hub during a search operation there in Lasbela district," an official said.
The government has faced serious problems preventing militants and separatists in the province from attacking and setting ablaze US and NATO containers.
"Ten of the arrested belong to the Lyari gang and came to Hub after committing serious offences and crimes in Karachi," the official said.
The land cruiser used in an attack on NATO oil tankers was also recovered by the forces during the search operation, the official said.
Just a few days back, militants had attacked and torched 22 NATO oil tankers in the area which had prompted the search operation.
Huge quantity of arms and ammunition were also recovered from the possession of the arrested militants and criminals.
The seized material included 400 kilogrammes of explosives, 4000 rounds, 4 Kalashnikovs and other weapons.
Inspector General Major General Muhammad Ejaz Shahid, in a statement, has hailed the action and assured the masses that the elements involved in lawlessness would not be spared.
Pakistani contractors had stopped driving oil supplies from Karachi to the Torkham border crossing in northwest Balochistan due to frequent attacks on their vehicles.
