Two suspects in CTD officer's murder shot dead

Police seize cache of arms, explosives in raid on suspects' hideout

KARACHI:

The Sindh police's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) announced on Sunday that two suspects involved in the murder of DSP Ali Raza, who was killed on July 7, were shot dead during a police encounter. The operation took place in the early hours of Sunday near Akbar Road, Sher Shah Bridge, close to Siddiqa Mosque.

During the raid, one suspect was killed on the spot, while the second, who was injured, was arrested but later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Both bodies were transferred to the Civil Hospital's trauma center, where their deaths were confirmed before being moved to the morgue. Senior police officials, including CTD DIG Asif Ijaz Sheikh, arrived at the scene following the incident.

In a statement to the media, CTD officials, including DIG Sheikh and CTD In-charge Raja Umar Khattab, identified the deceased as 30-year-old Usman Qureshi, son of Ayub Qureshi, and 35-year-old Hafiz Qasim Rashid, son of Abdul Rashid Hazravi. Both suspects were members of the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi group, which operates in conjunction with the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). They were prime suspects in the killing of DSP Ali Raza, who was gunned down near Faisal Market, Karimabad, in July.

The CTD reported that the suspects were linked to over 35 criminal cases and were highly wanted by the authorities. During the operation, police recovered a cache of weapons, including a Kalashnikov, two pistols, three hand grenades, and components for constructing a suicide jacket (such as ball bearings, detonators, and wires). Additionally, a hit list targeting future attacks in Karachi was found.

A third suspect, involved in the surveillance of DSP Ali Raza, was arrested from the suspects' hideout. His identity and further details of others involved in the assassination plot will be revealed at a later stage, according to officials. The arrested suspects were planning further attacks in the city.

Since DSP Raza's murder, the CTD has been actively pursuing those responsible. DIG Sheikh informed the media that various police teams were formed to trace the suspects. Eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage were used to identify them. Intelligence reports confirmed that the terrorists were linked to the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and its Karachi leader, Hafiz Qasim Rashid, was directly involved in DSP Raza's murder.

Two additional suspects, Naeem and Hamza, were arrested on September 29, 2024, at Karachi's Cantt Station while attempting to flee to Multan. Their interrogation led to the discovery of the hideouts of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi's Karachi leader Hafiz Qasim and his associate Usman Qureshi. After continuous surveillance, the raid took place on the night of November 6, leading to the shootout.

From the terrorists' hideout, authorities recovered weapons, a list of targeted killings, and a letter from the TTP, indicating that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi had recently aligned itself with the TTP. The recovered weapons and materials are being sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for further analysis.

According to police records, Hafiz Qasim Rashid, who had recently announced his allegiance to the TTP, had been released from prison after serving 12 years for multiple murders and other criminal activities. Authorities have emphasized that, although this operation has dealt a significant blow to the terrorist network, more members of the group may still be active.