Weeks after a deadly attack in Peshawar’s Police Lines, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) Friday night evacuated the five-story office of the city’s police chief after a nearly four-hour operation.
Officials reported that at least three militants committed suicide by blowing themselves up and two were killed in a shootout when they searched the office located on Sharea Faisal’s main roadway.
- Terrorists breached the 5-story KPO building near Saddar Police Station on Sharea Faisal at 7:10 pm
- The operation is completed; clearance underway
- 4 people were martyred; 19 injured
- TTP claims attack
The latest attack on security forces as terrorism grips the country claimed the deaths of four individuals, including Rangers and police officers, and injured 18 others, according to officials. Top government officials have expressed strong condemnation of the event.
The attack began at 7:10 pm, while police and Rangers personnel cleared the five-story building in phases, finally sweeping the entire office by around 10:46 pm. Around the station, police snipers took up positions, and all of the lights were turned off.
An anonymous police officer informed that the attackers entered the office while wearing police uniforms, a strategy reminiscent of the Peshawar mosque suicide attack that left more than 80 people dead. Police officials reported that multiple bullets were fired at the main office, which is close to the Sadar Police Station, by armed suspects whose exact number is now unknown.
Traffic on Karachi’s main highway was blocked off by police, and large security force contingents—including Rangers and Pakistan Army commandos from the Special Service Group—arrived at the scene.
TTP claims responsibility
In a statement released by its spokesperson Mohammad Khurasani, the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban of Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack. One of Karachi’s busiest naval outposts, PNS Mehran, was attacked in 2011 and TTP claimed responsibility.
Ten security personnel died as a result of the attack and operation, which lasted 17 hours. The attack and the subsequent operation also resulted in the destruction of two surveillance planes made in the US.
Three years later, on the evening of June 8, 2014, the TTP assaulted Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, resulting in the loss of 24 people as well as damage to property. The attack on this crucial facility had a significant impact on airport security and culminated in the start of Operation Zarb-e-Azb on June 15, 2014.
After attacks in KP and districts bordering Afghanistan, the office of the chief of the Karachi police was stormed. The TTP has escalated its attacks after the negotiations with the group broke down in November of last year, and militants in Balochistan have done the same and established a formal connection with the TTP, which is a banned organization.
‘General security threat’
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah told in an exclusive interview that police and Rangers commandos have arrived at the scene to deal with the terrorists. He assured them that “every support will be offered” and that the federal government is in contact with the Sindh Police.
According to the chief secretary and IG Sindh, who Sanaullah claimed he had spoken to, the police witnessed “six to seven terrorists” enter the structure.
In response to a query, he stated that the Peshawar terror attack had increased the threat to general security. He said, “All the institutions are completely alert throughout the nation.” The security czar emphasized the importance of taking more measures to combat the recent surge of terrorism. The terrorists allegedly launched a grenade after parking the car and then used that as a cover to break inside the building, according to the police, he revealed.
‘Unacceptable’
Both the attack and the leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the province’s ruling party, were denounced by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
“Condemn the terrorist attack on Karachi police. Sindh police have bravely faced and crushed terrorism before,” he stated, taking to his official Twitter handle.
The minister expressed worry about further attacks of this nature but also hoped that the heinous acts won’t deter the country. “Such cowardly acts won’t stop us; we have every confidence that they will do it again. I support the police in Karachi, Bilawal wrote.
Sindh governor directs officials to take ‘strong action’
Murad Ali Shah, the chief minister of Sindh, was alerted to the attack on the additional inspector-office generals and gave numerous DIGs instructions to dispatch police to the scene.
In another tweet, Murtaza Wahab said, “#SindhGovt commends the entire law enforcement team especially the person who directly participated in the operation to clear the KPO building & neutralise the terrorists. The entire nation is indebted to their bravery.”
In response to the incident, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori requested a report from Inspector-General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon. He gave the go-ahead for “serious action” against the terrorists from the officials.
“Terrorists should be strictly dealt with. The attack is an extremely significant cause for concern,” he stated.
Sharjeel Memon, the minister of information for Sindh, stated that terrorists must be stopped. “Terrorists who contest the authority of the government will learn a lesson. They attacked while they were concealed, and the attack will cost them dearly, the minister predicted.
Traffic diversion
The Karachi Traffic Police closed both sides of Sharea Faisal from the Avari Hotel to the Nursery due to the terrorist incident.
The traffic coming from the Avari Hotel’s side is being redirected to Teen Talwar and Cantonment Train Station in an effort to minimize disruption to commuters. While Korangi Road is being used as a diversion for vehicles coming from the Nursery area. Defense Mor is redirecting traffic coming from Korangi Road to Hino Chowrangi (the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Korangi Road).
Cities on high alert
Security is on high alert in the federal capital, according to a statement from Islamabad’s IG Akbar Nasir Khan, who also said that all officers have been told to remain in their specific zones.
He added that officials have been told to keep all major buildings and the Red Zone on high alert and that checking at entry and departure points and inside the city has escalated.
The Islamabad IG advised that “official cars should also be scrutinized” and that “people should maintain the requisite identification documents with them while traveling.”
According to SSP Hyderabad Police, blockades and snap checks were in progress, and security was on high alert throughout the city. But, according to police in Mirpurkhas, security officers have been deployed and all of the city’s police stations and lines’ gates have been locked.
