Rangers, CTD arrest TTP-linked terrorist in Karachi

He collected funds and transferred them to Waziristan through TTP-linked Easypaisa accounts, says Rangers spokesperson

KARACHI:

Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested a suspected terrorist linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Karachi, recovering weapons and explosives from his possession, the Sindh Rangers spokesperson said on Sunday.

"The suspect, identified as Shahzad alias Dunger, was arrested during a joint intelligence-based operation in Jacob Lines, Jamshed Town," the spokesperson said.

According to the Sindh Rangers spokesperson, Shahzad was associated with the Mansoor group of the TTP and had joined the organisation in 2025 after being influenced by its leader, Mansoor.

"Mansoor had tasked Shahzad with raising funds for the organisation in Karachi, " the spokesperson added.

Shahzad had allegedly contacted people in Manghopir and persuaded them to make monthly contributions to the TTP. He then collected the funds and transferred them to Waziristan through Easypaisa accounts provided by Mansoor's associate, Din Muhammad, who was based in Tank, the spokesperson said.

The suspect told investigators that "the money was subsequently sent to Mansoor and used to finance various terrorist activities," according to the spokesperson.

The Rangers said Shahzad had travelled to Waziristan on several occasions and held secret meetings with Mansoor. In June 2026, he allegedly met Mansoor in Birmal, an area bordering Afghanistan.

During the meeting, Mansoor instructed Shahzad to strengthen his network in Karachi for terrorism and extortion, the spokesperson said. Mansoor later allegedly sent weapons and explosives to Shahzad through an unidentified associate.

"After receiving the weapons and explosives, Shahzad and his associates were allegedly planning attacks on sensitive locations in Karachi," the Rangers added.

The spokesperson said raids were underway to arrest the suspect's other associates.

On June 28, security forces foiled a terrorist attack in Karachi, in which three Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) personnel embraced martyrdom, and four others were injured. The attack, according to the military’s media wing, was launched by “Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar”. The assailants, after a blast at the main gate at the Rangers camp, attempted to breach the perimeter security but were pushed back by personnel who killed three Kharjis and captured one, identified as an Afghan national, in an injured condition.

The attack was one of the deadliest in the city in recent years.

The city has repeatedly faced such breaches, beginning with the April 2022 suicide bombing outside Karachi University's Confucius Institute- an attack claimed by the BLA. This was followed by a day-long militant takeover of the Karachi Police Office in February 2023 and a devastating October 2024 bombing near the Karachi Airport that killed several Chinese engineers.