Karachi terror plot foiled as CTD arrests two alleged BLA operatives

KARACHI: The Sindh Counter Terrorism Department said on Tuesday it had thwarted a terror plan in Karachi after detaining two men it identified as members of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army during an intelligence-based operation, according to an official CTD statement.

The statement named the suspects as Mujahid Baloch and Fareed Baloch, also known as Zakir Bin. The CTD said both men had received training at BLA camps, including instruction in reconnaissance and communications, and were active in Karachi on the directions of commanders Sajid Baloch and Basheer Zeb.

According to the CTD, the two men had been collecting information on sensitive sites in the city and were trying to build a network to launch attacks on security personnel and other important locations.

Officials said material used in bomb-making was seized during the operation, including 4kg of explosives, detonators, primacord and ball bearings. A case has been registered under the Explosives Substances Act and the Anti-Terrorism Act, while investigators continue to pursue the matter.

The CTD added that more teams had been constituted in coordination with other security agencies to expand the inquiry and conduct further raids on the basis of information obtained from the suspects.

The arrests came a little over a week after a major attack on Pakistan Rangers personnel in Karachi. On June 27, three Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) personnel were killed and four others were wounded when security forces repelled an assault on a Rangers camp in the city.

The Inter-Services Public Relations had said the attack was carried out by Khawarij linked to the Indian proxy Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. Police had said a suicide bomber blew himself up at the camp’s main gate before three armed assailants entered the compound, opened fire and hurled hand grenades. Security personnel killed two of the attackers, while a third was injured and taken into custody.