Four planners of Safoora bus attack arrested: Sindh chief minister

Premier felicitates CM Sindh, says the arrests show Karachi operation is headed in right direction

NAWABSHAH/ KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah claimed 0n Tuesday that they had arrested four suspects who had allegedly planned the Safoora bus attack that had left 45 people dead, Radio Pakistan reported.

Speaking to the media in Nawabshah on Tuesday afternoon, Shah said that the attackers had been arrested from Karachi.

Earlier, while speaking on a point of order in the Sindh Assembly, the chief minister expressed his satisfaction on the law and order situation in the province despite a string of high-profile attacks and assassinations, especially in Karachi.

On May 13, at least six gunmen on motorcycles boarded a bus and in execution-style shot commuters belonging to the Ismaili community.

Attackers had ties to al Qaeda

The counter-terrorism department claimed that the four suspects linked to the Safoora attack had ties to al Qaeda.

They added that mastermind Tahir was among those arrested. He hailed from Sarai Alamgir near Jehlum in Punjab. Tahir’s brother Shahid had been killed in a police encounter on a link road on May 2.

Nawaz calls Shah

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called Qaim Ali Shah and lauded efforts of law enforcement agencies in apprehending those responsible for the Safoora tragedy.

Read: Safora massacre: Important leads found from crime scene, says Sharjeel

He reiterated the government’s resolve to eliminate terrorism and militancy from the country and said the LEAs are fully capable to face sorts of challenges.

“Arrest of the culprits proves that the operation in Karachi is heading in the right direction.”