The Karachi Police said on Monday it had killed four ‘terrorists’ in an encounter.
The four criminals were from the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and were behind attacks on military officials and the Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, who was critically injured in the TTP-claimed attack in Swat in October 2012.
Senior Superintendent of Malir Police Rao Anwaar said that the terrorists were killed in the Sadaf Society locality of Karachi in an exchange of gunfire. The terrorists opened fire at the police when they raided a compound in the locality.
Those killed include Khurshid, a cousin of TTP Chief Maulvi Fazlullah, who security officials claim operates from the Afghan side of the border. TTP is said to be involved in most of the terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
Khurshid was wanted by the police for several crimes, including attacks on the police in Karachi, Anwaar said.
The police said it and other law enforcement agencies searched various localities of Karachi for a suspect in Saturday’s attack on Khawaja Izharul Hassan, leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and leader of the Opposition in the Sindh province’s parliament.
Khawaja Izharul Hassan escaped unhurt in the attack, but his police bodyguard and a child were killed. One of the attackers was killed after guards returned fire, according to the police.
Anwaar said another attacker on the MQM-P leader has been identified as Abdul Karim Sarosh Siddiqui, a student of applied physics at Karachi University. Siddiqui, who had fled after firing on the political leader, is stated to be a senior commander of outlawed militant group ‘Ansarul Shariah.’
The police also released Siddiqui’s photograph and his university card, asking the people to share information with the authorities if they receive any about the suspect.
