Over 150 people lost their lives and hundreds of others were wounded when a pair of suicide bombers blew themselves up near Karsaz on Sharae Faisal near a motorcade carrying former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. She had returned to Pakistan after an eight-year-long self-imposed exile and fortunately remained unhurt in the attack.
According to CID officials, the suspect was allegedly behind preparing the suicide bombers for the 2007 blast. He was killed when CID officials and personnel conducted a raid on a tip-off at the militants' stronghold, Manghopir.
A CID spokesperson said that the accused was killed after an exchange of fire which ensued when the raid was conducted. However, his companions managed to escape under the cover of fire. The body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for autopsy where he was identified as Firdous Khan. CID officials said that the deceased militant was associated with the Mehsud group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Earlier, the CID claimed to have arrested two militants involved in the attack as well. The arrests were disclosed by CID SSP Usman Bajwa on October 31 and the suspects were identified as Jamshed and Abid. They were arrested during a raid conducted in Shah Latif Colony. Bajwa had said that Jamshed revealed that his group was also involved in the suicide attack on Bilal Shaikh, who had been serving as the chief security officer for former president Asif Ali Zardari since 2008.
Busted
Separately, the Rangers claim to have apprehended nine suspects during targeted raids and operations in the metropolis. According to a Rangers spokesperson, nine alleged criminals were taken into custody during a raid in Akal Bonga, Old City. He said that the arrested included target killers and extortionists affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. Weapons, including Awan grenades, bulletproof jackets and a large cache of ammunition were also recovered, he added. The suspects were later shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.
In another raid conducted in Old Golimar, the Rangers claimed to have apprehended five suspected gangsters. According to a Rangers spokesperson, the arrested suspects were members of a Lyari-based gang and weapons, including hand grenades, sub machineguns (SMGs) and narcotics, were also seized from them. The suspects were later shifted to an undisclosed location for further questioning.
In another raid, two suspected target killers, also believed to be extortionists, were arrested during an alleged encounter with the police in Khawaja Ajmer Nagri. The suspects were later identified as Zubair Shaikh and Raja Israr. Two hand grenades and two pistols were also recovered from their possession. Police officials said that the suspects belonged to a group of criminals, namely Babar. During the initial course of interrogation, they revealed to have been involved in various cases of target killings and extortion in different parts of the city, including Kati Pahari and North Nazimabad.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2014.
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