RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) or similar foreign hand had been involved but that statement was mainly on basis of assertion that RAW had remained involved in such activities in the entire region till Balochistan. He said once JIT would be completed into the case then final conclusion could be drawn about affiliation and backing of terrorism as whether they had support of any foreign agency.
He said the four arrested terrorists could be a part of large gang of 15 to 20 criminals of having similar profiles but identities of their accomplices in terrorist activities in the city would be disclosed once they would also be arrested.
The CM appreciated services of Deputy Inspector-General of police Arif Hanif in-charge CTD Raja Umar Khattab for their key role in catching the four criminals. He announced Rs50 million cash reward for police officials who played role in catching these criminals.
The identities and profiles of four arrested suspects are: Tahir Hussain Minhas (with aliases Sain Nazir, Zahid, Naveed, Khalil, Mota) having qualification of matriculation. Tahir was identified in the press conference as mastermind of Safoora carnage. He had been engaged in terrorist activities since 1998 as having expertise in bomb making and use of arms.
Second arrested suspect was identified as Saad Aziz with aliases Tin Tin and Jhon and stated to be a BBA degree holder from Institute of Business Administration Karachi. He was also said to be the mastermind of killing of NGO activist and head of social forum The Second Floor, Sabeen Mahmud in Karachi.
The third one was Muhammad Azhar Ishrat alias Majid having a degree in Electronics Engineering from Sir Syed University and involved in terrorism since 2011.The fourth one was identified as Hafiz Nasir alias Yasir having the MA degree in Islamic Studies from University of Karachi and engaged in terrorist activities since year 2013.
The CM said that the four arrested suspects besides killing 47 people of Ismaili community, were also involved in following recent acts of terrorism and sabotage in Karachi:Murder of NGO activist Sabeen Mahmud, firing on US academic living in Karachi Debra Lobo in area of Ferozabad police station, magnet-fitted bomb attacks on Naval officers in Karachi, suicidal attack on Brig Basit of Rangers in Karachi, grenade attacks on private schools in Nazimabad and North Nazimabad, bomb blast and target killing of Bohri community in Arambagh, North Nazimabad, Bahadurabad and in Hyderabad, bomb attacks on police mobile vans and killings of police personnel at various locations in the city.
The weapons recovered from four suspects included three Klashnikovs, seven 09 mm pistols, five grenades, five laptop computers, seven pieces of explosive materials, and also militant literature was also recovered from them.