LEAs kill TTP Sindh chief-designate, one operative

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s nominated chief for its Sindh chapter, who was also operating as the Jundullah Karachi ameer and also had ties with al-Qaeda, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Daesh, was killed by Rangers in a shootout on the outskirts of the city near Hub on Friday.

He was identified as Saqib alias Arif alias Anjum alias Abbas.

A Rangers spokesperson said the paramilitary force’s anti-terrorist force with the assistance of an intelligence agency had conducted a raid at a hideout of TTP terrorists who were also associated Daesh. In the ensuing shootout, Saqib was injured while his associates fled. Later, Saqib expired.

Saqib was involved in the attack on then Karachi corps commander Lt-Gen Ahsan Saleem Hayat in 2004.

He had also attacked Maulana Fazalur Rehman in Quetta. He had also carried out the attack that killed Bilal Shaikh, the chief security officer of former president Asif Ali Zardari.

Saqib was also involved in the killing of people belonging to minority communities and attacks on churches.

Saqib was presently planning to attack the Rangers Sindh headquarters in Karachi and the office of the police’s Special Security Unit.

The spokesperson while searching the hideout of the terrorists, the Rangers found a basement which was being used as a bomb-making factory. They found automatic weapons, ammunition, grenades, improvised explosive devices and equipment used for them.

‘TTP terrorist’ killed

The Sohrab Goth police in a raid conducted in Quetta Town in the morning gunned down an alleged TTP terrorist.

 SHO Rana Haseeb said police had received information about the presence of TTP terrorists in the area.

The police raided their hideout and in the ensuing encounter, one terrorist was injured while his two associates managed to escape.

The injured terrorist, identified as Saqib Salman, later expired. A 9mm pistol and two grenades were found on him.

Slain terrorist identified

Rangers have announced that the three terrorists killed in an encounter on Wednesday night in Manghopir were affiliated with the TTP, Daesh, and al-Qaeda and were involved in several acts of terrorism, including the Safoora Goth bus attack.

They were identified as Salman alias Yasir, Mohammad Hussain alias Mistary Pathan and Mohammad Suleman Khan alias Sharmila Pathan.

Sharing details of the shootout, the Rangers spokesperson said just as the paramilitary force were closing in on the hideout, the terrorists opened fire on them, injuring a soldier.

The raiding team cordoned off the place and fired back, killing one of the terrorists.

Later, reinforcements were called in and two other fleeing terrorists were gunned down. Weapons and ammunition were found at their hideout.

Giving details of each individual, the spokesperson said Salman alias Yasir was a hardcore militant of the TTP Swat and also a local leader. In 2008, he was involved in carrying out attacks on security forces in Swat and the abduction of four soldiers.

He was also involved in staging suicide attacks on security forces, including an attack on the Rangers Headquarters in North Nazimabad in 2013 in which three soldiers were killed.

He had killed more than 10 people, including political workers and police officials. He was also involved in bomb attacks in which 12 people were killed.

He was had carried out an attack on Awami National Party leader Bashir Jan using an IED-fitted rickshaw, in which nine people lost their lives.

Salman provided suicide jackets and training to militants and extorted and kidnapped traders. In 2015, he had kidnapped Hasan, the owner of a leather factory, and released him after taking an amount of Rs3 million.

The spokesperson said Mohammad Hussain alias Mistary Pathan was among the attackers who killed 46 passengers of a bus in Safoora Goth. He had entered the bus from the driver’s door.

In September 2014, he had targeted two policemen in Hyderabad and was also involved in robberies and extortion. In October 2014, he had robbed a bank in Hyderabad taking away Rs1.9 million.

The spokesperson said Suleman Khan alias Sharmila Pathan worked for al-Qaeda and TTP Swat and also had ties with other Taliban factions. He trained terrorists and was involved in killing police officials and carrying out an attack on a police van with a grenade. In 2014, he had lobbed a grenade at an imambargah near Ayesha Manzil and was also involved in extorting traders and bank heists in Hyderabad.