Attack on Chinese nationals near Karachi airport: Second FIR filed

BLA commanders named in Karachi explosion case after Chinese engineers targeted near airport.

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Monday lodged another first information report (FIR) for suicide bombing outside the Karachi Airport which claimed the lives of three people, including two Chinese nationals.

According to the police, the case has been filed under charges including murder, attempted murder, use of explosives, and terrorist funding at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station, Express News reported.

The case was registered on the complaint of Inspector Kaleem Khan Musa of the Airport Police Station under sections 302, 324, 353, 186, 427, 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997.

After interrogating the arrested suspects, authorities identified BLA commanders Bashir Ahmad Baloch and Abdul Rahman Gul as masterminds behind the attack, naming them as accomplices in the bombing near the airport.

Last month, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar claimed that four suspects, including a mastermind behind the suicide bombing near Karachi airport that targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers, have been apprehended.

Speaking at a press conference in Karachi alongside Sindh Inspector General (IG) Police, Ghulam Nabi Memon, Minister Lanjar provided details of the attack.

The main suspect behind the attack was identified as Javed, who coordinated the operation, including reconnaissance and providing information about the Chinese nationals' movements, Lanjar said.

He confirmed that two Chinese engineers were among the three individuals killed in the attack, while 11 others were injured. The outlawed separatist group, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Minister Lanjar identified the suicide bomber as Shah Fahad, whose body was mostly destroyed in the explosion.

"CCTV footage also helped identify the bomber and two accomplices. Fragments of the vehicle used in the attack were recovered from the scene," he added.

Zia said that further investigation revealed that the car used in the bombing had been purchased for 7.1 million rupees from a showroom. Excise data revealed that two individuals, Farhan and Sharif, were involved in the car's purchase, and the bomber had accompanied them during the purchase.