Forest official detained on suspicion of extortion while posing as TTP — Dawn
In Pakistan, officers of the Counter Terrorism Department detained Ihsanullah, an employee of the forestry department. He is suspected of demanding money and threatening an employee of his department during anonymous phone calls in which the callers allegedly identified themselves as members of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Court decision
An anti-terrorism court allowed Ihsanullah to be handed over to the Counter Terrorism Department for three days for questioning. Judge Farid Khan Alezai ordered that the suspect be brought before the court again on September 22.
Ihsanullah works as a deputy ranger in the Dera Ismail Khan forestry division. As Dawn reports, a complaint regarding the anonymous calls was filed on June 19, 2026, by Mohammad Junaid, the director of human resources development at the forestry department. The case was registered with the Counter Terrorism Department police under provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Threats and demand for money
According to the investigator, the complainant reported several threatening calls to his mobile phone. The callers allegedly posed as TTP members and demanded 15 million Pakistani rupees.
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The investigator told the court that the initial investigation established Ihsanullah's possible involvement. He requested time to question him, including about the possible involvement of other individuals in the case.
Correspondence with the forestry department
In July, the Counter Terrorism Department informed the forestry department's management that the suspect was evading arrest and asked it to require him to surrender. A letter from the additional inspector general of police also requested the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against Ihsanullah.
At the same time, the head of the relevant forestry district stated in official correspondence that such proceedings against the deputy ranger could fall under constitutional protection against double prosecution for the same circumstances.
