Taliban spokesman calls on scholars to condemn killings. PHOTO: FILE
Six alleged militants of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan were killed in two encounters with the police and the Rangers in Karachi on Wednesday.
A large cache of weapons and 200kg of explosives were also recovered, officials claim.
The Tuesday night encounter was carried out on a tip-off, according to anti-extremist cell (AEC) of the Crime Investigation Department (CID).
“We had information that terrorists were smuggling explosives from Balochistan. Law-enforcement agencies intercepted a car near Lucky Pahari on Hub River Road. When we tried to stop them, they attacked with heavy weaponry,” AEC incharge, Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP) Chaudhry Aslam Khan, told The Express Tribune.
Two police officers and four ‘terrorists’ were injured in the exchange of fire. They were taken to Civil Hospital where all four suspects died, officials said.
The officials also claim to have seized 200 kg of explosive materials, detonators and weapons.
“We have foiled a major terrorist attack in Karachi,” DSP Khan said. He added that some militants managed to escape.
DSP Khan said the terrorists were from the Mohmand group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “The chief and the deputy chief of the group were killed in the encounter.”
Separately, two more alleged TTP militants were killed during an encounter with the Rangers and the police in Manghopir, one of the no-go areas in the city.
According to Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, a targeted raid was carried out on a hideout of one of TTP’s splinter groups.
“Two suspected militants were killed in an exchange of fire,” said the Rangers spokesperson.
Weapons including sub-machine guns, pistols and grenades were seized from them.
The two terrorists were part of a group who had arrived in the city to carry out attacks against government and military installations, according to the Rangers spokesman.
TTP calls scholars
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) central spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid asked religious clerics and scholars to condemn the killing of four TTP members in Karachi and take notice of the issue.
None of the government officials have contacted the TTP for negotiations, he added.
Shahid said the government should first announce a truce and stop drone attacks, then the TTP would announce a ceasefire.
More gang members caught
The police arrested at least nine alleged target killers and extortionists belonging to the MQM and Lyari gang war in separate raids on Wednesday.
Two of the suspects, Fida Hussain and Mehboob Ali, are affiliated with the MQM.
Three alleged members of a Lyari gang were also apprehended in a separate raid, DIG Odho informed the media.
Separately, Karachi police’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) claimed to have arrested three suspects belonging to Lyari’s Shahid Bikkik gang.
SIU chief SP Naveed Khawaja told a press conference that the arrested suspects were involved in more than 45 cases of extortion, adding that they had recently attacked the ice-cream parlour owned by President Mamnoon Hussain’s nephew.
Meanwhile, the police and Rangers conducted a joint operation in the Gadap area from where an abducted boy was found, it was reported.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (6)
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The TTp spokesperson sounds like a bit of a joke. Who asks the governement to condemn the killing of terrorists? Okay chalo be happy , the govt can "take notice".
why would put terrorists in inverted commas when the group's spokesperson has himself admitted they were members of the TTP. Come on ET
BUhahahahahahahahaa. Was is enough or you need more condemnation?
Talibans are asking mullas to condemn killing of TTP terrorists, It looks like that now the mullas will be facing the music also.
In operations like this against the talibans, army may at times commit some excess. Politicians, intellectuals and citizens should be understanding and not condemn it unnecessarily as long as the army is sincere in its efforts to wipe out the terrorists.