The Crime Investigation Department of Sindh police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested a close associate of Baitullah Mehsud, a Taliban commander from Karachi’s Keamari area.

According to SSP CID Fayaz Khan, the Taliban commander, Fazal Mehsud, was residing in Keamari for the past several years and had been collecting funds for Taliban. According to police, the arrested commander is a close associate of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan’s Baitullah Mehsud and Maulvi Fazal Ahmed. During the preliminary interrogation, Fazal revealed that a few years ago, Baitullah had come to Karachi for medical treatment and had stayed at the residence of Fazal Mehsud. Fazal also admitted to being involved in terror activities in the city along with his gang.

Fazal Mehsud was involved in gathering funds for the Taliban. SSP Fayyaz Khan said, Fazal Mehsud was involved in several acts of terrorism and used to pump money to militants from Karachi. The suspect is involved in fundraising for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and other terrorist activities in Waziristan. A cache of weapons, including Kalashnikovs, grenades and ammunition, was found in the house.

Meanwhile, according to latest reports Fazal Mehsud was released from jail Tuesday night due to lack of evidence against him on the orders of the court.