Two alleged militants shot dead in encounter

Accused are said to be affiliated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan

KARACHI: In what appears to be the first alleged police encounter by Rao Anwar since his reinstatement as Malir SSP only a day ago, two suspected militants were gunned down by the law enforcers in a shoot-out in the outskirts of the city on Saturday.

The militants were allegedly affiliated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and were planning a terror activity in the city, said SSP Anwar, while speaking to the media after the encounter that took place off Super Highway. "One of them has been identified as Abdullah alias Cobra, a dangerous terrorist having a long criminal record, who was earlier jailed a number of times," he said. The identity of the other militant has yet to be ascertained.

The encounter took place hours after a retired army major was killed in a targeted attack in Defence Housing Authority area. The responsibility of the murder was claimed by the same outlawed group.



SSP Anwar said that he had received information about some splintered terrorists’ group regaining ground in Sohrab Goth. The groups were involved in kidnapping, extortion and other terrorist activities, he added.

"December 16 [the black day when TTP militants massacred some 132 children in Army Public School, Peshawar, last year] is near. So the terrorists were planning another activity," said SSP Anwar. He added that the raid was conducted on a tip-off and at least four militants managed to escaped.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2015.