KARACHI: The Counter Terrorism Department has claimed to have foiled a terror attempt to religious events being held in connection with the 12th of Rabiul Awwal (Sunday, October 9), which is observed as the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The claim came a day after two suspected terrorists of a banned outfit were killed in an operation in Karachi’s suburbs.

“Four CTD men got injured in the anti-terror operation,” Asif Aijaz Shaikh, CTD DIG, said while addressing a press conference in Karachi on Sunday.

The press talk centered on the counter-terrorism operation in the city’s Janjal Goth on Saturday.

Shaikh was accompanied by CTD SSP Zubair Nazeer, CTD incharge Raja Umar Khattab and Mazhar Mashwani.

The CTD claimed that it was in contact with the country’s intelligence agencies before the operation, adding that the raiding party moved in after reconnaissance.

“The terrorists killed were identified as Aimal Shah and Abdullah,” said Shaikh, “they were tipped as the mastermind of [Quetta] Serena Hotel blast.” At least five people were killed and 12 injured in the blast on April 21, 2021.

Meanwhile, the banned TTP in a statement confirmed that its militants Aimal Shah alias Saifur Rehman and Qari Abdullah alias Qari Samiullah were killed in Karachi.

Shaikh claimed that the suspected terrorists were also involved in attacks on vehicles of intelligence agencies. A couple of months after the Serena Hotel blast Frontier Corps check post and a police vehicle were targeted in suicide attacks.

Khattab, the CTD incharge, elaborated that terrorists belonged to the banned Islamic State – Khorasan Province and earlier they were part of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Terrorists, who arrived in Karachi from Balochistan, were residing in the city for the past two to four months, the CTD team said, adding that they had taken up residence in the Janjal Goth just a few days ago.

The police entered their hideout by smashing down the gate with an armored personnel carrier (APC). The suspects lobbed a hand grenade at the raiding party and fired bullets.

One of the terrorists was trying to flee through the roof after his partner got killed, however, he also got killed.

The CTD alleged that the killed terrorists wanted to form a group in Karachi.

A rise in terrorist activities has been seen in the country over the past many months, with attacks on Chinese nationals and Pakistani military personnel. This is in addition to the floods, which have killed more than 1,600 people, and the prevailing economic situation.

One of the major terror incidents was a suicide attack at the University of Karachi where three Chinese nationals were killed.