KARACHI: The BLA and BLF have been accused of committing a heinous and inhumane act by involving underage Baloch girls as suicide bombers. Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, accompanied by the Additional IG of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), disclosed the details during a press conference.
In the briefing, a conversation between a young Baloch girl and her mother, aimed to be exploited in an attack, was presented to the media, ensuring their anonymity to protect their identities.
Law enforcement agencies have shed light on critical information regarding the prevention of what could have been a devastating terrorist attack.
The Sindh Interior Minister revealed that Karachi narrowly escaped a major catastrophe, thanks to the quick and decisive actions of security forces. Efforts by terrorist groups are increasingly targeting vulnerable minors, with social media becoming a central tool for their malicious agendas.
The minister emphasized that the identity of the rescued victim is being strictly protected to preserve her dignity and secure her future, as promised by the state.
Additional IG CTD Sindh further elaborated on the situation, disclosing that banned terrorist organizations tried to mold and exploit a young Baloch girl for a suicide bombing mission. This sinister plan was uncovered and disrupted through a sensitive, intelligence-driven operation conducted on December 25, during which law enforcement safely took the minor into custody.
According to the CTD, extremist forces had manipulated the girl’s mind over time using radicalized and hate-driven online content. She had unwittingly become vulnerable after secretly acquiring a mobile phone, unbeknownst to her mother, which allowed the terrorist handlers to groom her.
Investigations revealed that these handlers fed her anti-Pakistan propaganda through social media platforms—a campaign likely sponsored by foreign elements. Initially gaining her trust under the pretense of offering help, one handler eventually coerced her into agreeing to a suicide mission.
The minor was sent to Karachi under false pretenses while her family remained unaware of the plan. However, due to efficient checkpoints in the city, authorities successfully intercepted the plot before it could reach its intended target.
During questioning, the rescued girl provided detailed insights into the operational tactics used by the terrorist network. Based on her young age and circumstances, authorities immediately contacted her family, who traveled to Karachi with her siblings. The child was safely reunited with her loved ones under strict security measures.
The girl confessed that repeated exposure to hateful online propaganda had gradually altered her perception. Handlers had used WhatsApp groups to glorify the activities of banned organizations like the BLA, creating a deceptive image of heroism.
Her academic performance had suffered as she got drawn deeper into these destructive ideologies, which manipulated her into believing that self-sacrifice was an honorable act. She explained how she made false excuses to leave home, but as events unfolded, she realized the dangerous path she was treading. Expressing regret and fear during interrogation, she denounced her choices.
She passionately highlighted that true Baloch cultural values honor and respect women, and exploiting girls for such causes is a direct violation of those principles. The girl warned against falling prey to such treacherous schemes and described individuals promoting acts of self-destruction as predators undermining life itself.
Fueled by the hope of preventing other young girls from facing similar exploitation, she shared her story publicly. Her mother commended the state authorities for stepping in as guardians and saving her daughter’s life while ensuring that her honor remained intact.
In response to this alarming incident, CTD authorities called for stricter action against hate speech and terror propaganda on social media platforms. They emphasized the need for social media companies to enhance countermeasures such as banning accounts and revising algorithms that allow harmful content to spread.
The Additional IG of CTD Sindh pledged unyielding efforts in dismantling these criminal networks under the state’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism. Parents were urged to closely monitor their children’s online activities as unchecked internet usage could pose risks not just to individuals but to entire families.
The Sindh Home Minister concluded by affirming that counter-terrorism operations will continue with full force. He strongly condemned the exploitation of underage girls by banned organizations like BLA and BLF. Such vile practices, he said, are not acts of resistance but clear examples of child abuse and terrorism, violating Islamic principles, human values, and traditional Baloch culture alike.
