Terror plot on 12 Rabiul Awwal foiled: CTD

Hit-list containing names of religious figures recovered, claims DIG

KARACHI:

The two terrorists, Syed Aimal Khan and Abdullah, killed in a police encounter on Northern Bypass, Janjal Goth on Saturday, were planning terrorism on 12 Rabiul Awal, Counter- Terrorism Department DIG Asif Aijaz Sheikh said on Sunday.

 The slain terrorists had parted ways with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and and joined the banned Islamic State of Khorasan, DIG Sheikh said citing intelligence reports.

 "The slain suspects wanted to target important religious personalities," DIG Sheikh told the media persons at a press conference held at his office.

 The CTD DIG said that the slain terrorists had escaped from Balochistan and come to Karachi a few months ago and had shifted to the said house only three days ago.

 During the search their hideout after the shootout, police found a suicide jacket, two hand grenades, two pistols, 80 bullets, detonator wire, ball bearings, computer hard disk, and magnets used in making improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

 "CTD team also found a hit-list of people the slain terrorists were planning to kill," DIG Sheikh said.

 He further said that when they went to arrest the terrorists, the accused opened fire with automatic weapons, injuring four policemen.

 Police had to fire tear gas to arrest the accused.

 Sharing the past record of the Aimal and Abdullah, he said the duo, with the help of their accomplices, had killed two shopkeepers in Quetta in 2017.

 In the same year they had attacked DIG Hamid Shakeel in Quetta.

 In 2018, the slain suspects facilitated a suicide attack killing police personnel in Quetta.

 In 2020, Aimal and Abdullah martyred FC personnel by attacking an FC vehicle in Quetta.

 In 2021, they were responsible for the death of five people in a suicide attack in the parking lot of Quetta Serena Hotel.

 In other five terrorist incidents, the suspects had planted IEDs in Pakistan Army, Balochistan University, police vans and motorcycles in Kandahari Bazar, killing and injuring many people.

 IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon has announced to give cash reward and certificates of appreciation to CTD Police Party.