Karachi raid: Al Qaeda-linked terrorist blows himself up to avoid arrest

Farhan alias Pehlwan was a member of Punjabi Taliban, linked with al Qaeda

KARACHI: A suspected al Qaeda-linked terrorist allegedly blew himself up to avoid arrest during a raid in the Malir neighbourhood of the metropolis on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, police and an intelligence agency jointly raided a hideout of the alleged terrorist in Kehkashan Society, which falls in the jurisdiction of al Falah police station. “The terrorist, identified as Farhan alias Pehlwan, set off his suicide vest to avoid arrest,” said former District Malir SSP Rao Anwar.

The police recovered two hand grenades and a 9mm pistol from the hideout. The militant, living on the first floor of a double-storey house, was in his mid-20s. According to the police, Farhan was a member of the Punjabi Taliban and also had links with other militant outfits, including al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

Hailing from Lahore but living in Karachi, Farhan had been previously arrested for his alleged involvement in a kidnapping for ransom case about two-to-three years ago, but was released on bail.

The police believe Farhan had masterminded several terrorist attacks, particularly in Karachi.  “He had been involved in targeted killings of police officials in Karachi,” said Sohrab Goth SHO Aziz Shaikh while talking to The Express Tribune. Police officials said the accused was involved in the target killing of Steel Town DSP Fateh Sangri, Sindh High Court’s security in-charge DSP Zulfiqar Zaidi, Quaidabad DSP Majeed Abbas and former Hyderabad jail superintendent Aijaz Haider.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st,  2015.