KARACHI: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) announced that they have apprehended all individuals and facilitators connected to the recent assault on the Karachi Rangers camp. The investigation continues to uncover further details.
During a press briefing alongside Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar, IG Sindh Javed Alam Odho, and CTD Additional IG, officials disclosed that the entire network behind the attack has been identified and is under active investigation.
It was revealed that the terrorists received backing from leadership based in Afghanistan. The terror attack was carried out by the banned group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, which had re-emerged in Karachi after a long absence.
The officials stated that the slain attacker, Janaan, hailed from Farah Province in Afghanistan, while another militant, Bilal, originally from Bajaur, had been residing in Kunar Province for nearly two decades. Suspect Usman was identified as a resident of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.
SSP CTD Irfan Bahadur explained that the planning process for the attack consisted of four phases. He claimed that militants were trained in Afghanistan and then moved to Karachi with ongoing support from Afghan-based networks.
He further added that the attack plan was devised by Noor Wali, Sher Ali, and Saeed Shah, and was communicated to militant commander Qari Bashir, also known as Ahrar Mullah. Authorities identified Qari Bashir as the primary mastermind behind the Karachi assault.
The officials mentioned that the militants were chosen and trained at various camps in Afghanistan before being transported to Pakistan. Links of the detained suspects also suggested connections to India.
During the operation, local facilitators were activated in the third phase, and weapons along with suicide vests were supplied in the final stage. One of the militants, Usman alias Sher Muhammad, was arrested while injured.
The CTD confirmed that Rangers apprehended Qari Bashir during an intelligence-driven raid, and he reportedly admitted his role in orchestrating the attack.
Earlier, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar stated that Afghan nationals played a significant role in the assault on the Rangers’ unit on June 27. He added that three of the four attackers were Afghan citizens, with the fourth from Bajaur. The handlers were issuing commands from Afghanistan.
The minister emphasized that the attack aimed to instill fear and chaos among the public, and law enforcement agencies have exposed the facilitators involved.
