The workplace of the Karachi police chief, which got here beneath an audacious assault from heavily-armed Pakistani Taliban terrorists, has been cleared, officers stated on February 18 whereas confirming that three attackers had been killed and 4 others, together with three safety personnel, misplaced their lives.
In an hours-long operation, police commandos and paramilitary troopers cleared the Karachi Police Office (KPO) of terrorists, who stormed the five-storey constructing within the nation’s most populous metropolis on Friday night (February 17.)
A senior police official, who was a part of the workforce main the operation, informed the Dawn newspaper that there have been three attackers who arrived on the KPO in a white automotive. One of the attackers blew himself up on the constructing’s fourth flooring whereas two others had been shot useless on the roof.
“I can so far confirm that the Karachi Police Office (KPO) building has been cleared. Three terrorists have been neutralised,” Sindh authorities spokesperson Murtaza Wahab tweeted. The terrorists allegedly entered the constructing by climbing the rear wall and the three safety checkposts on the metropolis police chief’s workplace weren’t manned on the time of the assault.
“Barbed wire, on the rear wall of the KPO, was also cut,” they stated, including there aren’t any CCTV cameras put in to watch the constructing from the Shahrae Faisal facet, the Geo News reported.
“Three terrorists were killed and four people, including two policemen and a Sindh Rangers sub-inspector, died in the nerve-racking operation that lasted for more than four hours,” it stated.
Eighteen different folks, together with police and Rangers personnel, had been additionally injured within the terror assault, which occurred after a lethal suicide assault at a Peshawar Civil Lines mosque that left 84 useless.
“The law enforcement agencies identified three terrorists involved in the attack. Two of the terrorists belonged to North Waziristan while one of them belonged to Lakki Marwat,” the report stated.
“The terrorists were carrying bags that contained food items and were equipped with lethal weapons, including AK-47 which showed they had a long-term plan but they never got the chance,” a senior police official stated.
“DIG South Irfan Baloch said the terrorists had attacked the complex from two to three sides. Police also rescued the trapped 40-50 police officials and staff,” he stated.
Officials stated that after the incident, safety has been beefed up in any respect police stations and different delicate areas and buildings in Karachi.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the assault and appreciated the police and safety forces for his or her efficient motion towards the terrorists. “Terrorists have perhaps forgotten that Pakistan is the nation which defeated terrorism with its bravery and courage,” he tweeted.
Pakistan is not going to solely uproot terrorism however may even kill the terrorists by bringing them to justice. In the final 20 years, this nation fought terrorism with its personal blood, this nice nation is decided to finish this evil without end even on this time of trial,” he stated.
President Arif Alvi additionally strongly condemned the assault and prayed for the speedy restoration of the injured individuals. “The entire nation stands with its security forces against terrorists,” he stated. “Efforts will continue to eradicate the scourge of terrorism,” he stated.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed accountability for the assault in an announcement issued by its spokesperson Mohammad Khurasani.
The assault comes as a giant concern and embarrassment for the provincial authorities because the Karachi Police Chief workplace and the Saddar police station are positioned on the principle Shahrah-e-Faisal street which serves as Karachi’s essential thoroughfare with plenty of strategic installations, together with the Pakistan Airforce’s Faisal Base — and five-star lodges in shut proximity.
Overseas cricket gamers who’re at present competing within the Pakistan Super League are staying in these lodges with Karachi to host matches on Saturday and Sunday. But the Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah stated the PSL matches wouldn’t be affected by the incident.
Since the ceasefire settlement between the TTP and authorities broke down final yr in November, terrorists have stepped up assaults on safety forces and installations and even on mosques and markets in numerous elements of the nation however Karachi has for a while not witnessed any main incident.
The final main incident befell in June 2020 when 4 militants of the banned rebel group Baloch Liberation Army attacked the Karachi Stock Exchange, killing three folks. The terrorists killed themselves as they unsuccessfully tried to enter the inventory trade premises. In 2014, the TTP additionally struck on the Jinnah International Airport’s outdated terminal during which 24 lives had been misplaced and property broken.
Source: www.thehindu.com