Atleast two of the terrorists killed in the Karachi police office attack had visited Afghanistan before the attack, sources in the police said on Saturday.
This was revealed during the police investigation after they raided the house of the terrorist, identified as Kifayat Ullah, in Lakki Marwat. The raid house came under the jurisdiction of the Sadar police station.
The combat between terrorists and law-enforcement agencies—including Pakistan Army’s Special Service Group, Pakistan Rangers, and Sindh Police—on Friday at the Karachi Police Office located at Sharea Faisal left four people martyred and over a dozen injured. All three terrorists belonging to the banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan were killed.
Kifayat Ullah, aged between 22 and 23, had also been fighting in Afghanistan, they added. He belonged to the Tipu group of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP). He was also involved in the attacks on police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The family in their statement said that Kifayat ran away from home five months ago. They were of the view that he had escaped to Afghanistan, however, after the Karachi police office attack they came to know that he was in Pakistan.
On Sunday it was revealed that another terrorist, Zala Noor, had visited Afghanistan prior to the attack.
Noor entered Pakistan on January 11 via the Ghulam Khan border. After crossing over, he applied for a National Identification Card at a NADRA van.
Investigations have revealed that Noor was 20 years old and has left behind four brothers. His father resides near the Pakistan Market in Miranshah’s bazaar. His mother belongs to Datakhel.
A research of the site of the attack led to more arms and ammunition being discovered. Reports said that 12 more items including a grenade, a plastic box containing two pistols, a packet containing 9mm bullets, 210 rounds of ammunition and a a dagger were found.
A usb, a digital camera, a smartphone, two watches, a purse and a pistol holder were also found. In addition some burnt cloth, presumably used in a suicide vest was also found.
The car used in the attack was found to be sold in 2013 from Malir Cantt. The car was sold and resold to the same show room twice and is now in possession of a man named Jamil.
The owner of the showroom is currently in Punjab but has been summoned to become part of the investigation.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir has said that the security forces remained focused on counter-terrorism and intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were being conducted all over the country with “pronounced success on the contrary to political and other distractions being faced by the public”.
He said this during a visit to the metropolis, said an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement. Officials briefed the army chief and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah about the Karachi Police Office (KPO) incident at Corps Headquarters. They also visited the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and met with the victims of the attack.
They praised the “bravery, morale and sacrifices” of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in the line of duty.
Sindh CM Shah stated that the state acknowledged and saluted sacrifices rendered by the LEAs and the nation’s resolve against terrorism.
“Terrorists have no religious or ideological moorings, rather only misguided conception forced through coercion or inducement,” COAS Gen Munir said, “no nation can overcome such challenges with ‘kinetic actions’ only. It needs mutual trust, will of the people and synergy between all stakeholders.”
He added that the people of Pakistan have always “rejected and defeated terrorism and extremism” in all its manifestations. “Together we shall prevail upon this menace for a shared prosperous future,” the COAS said.
