Sindh Timeline- 2017

January 8

The Sindh CTD Transnational Terrorism Intelligence Group in-charge Raja Umer Khattab said that there might be surge in sectarian violence in city if LEAs don't chalk out a strategy to clamp down on sleeper cells. The sleeper cells of AQIS and the LeJ are believed to be involved in the recent attacks on Policemen and there might be a surge in sectarian violence in the coming days, Raja Umer Khattab said. "In the past AQIS has used homemade bombs containing ball bearings in the Taimuria Police Station a Russian-made grenade was used, something that is new," Raja Umer Khattab added. "AQIS primarily used handmade bombs. They had started off by making ball bombs and IEDs. The use of a grenade now suggests that sleeper cells of these terrorist outfits are now active and their members possess new kinds of weapons and explosives," Raja Umer Khattab added further.

The CPLC in its report has identified sixty 'hot spots' in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, where the street criminals operate the most and incidents of snatchings take place. These areas including PIDC, Tariq Road, Sakhi Hassan, Hassan Square, Bahadurabad, Aisha Manzil and the NIPA Chowrangi which are high-risk areas and even some areas in city's posh localities such as Defence and Clifton make it to the list. The CPLC report further states that in 2016, 19,336 incidents of mobile snatching were reported which is an increase of 38 percent as compared to 2015. "Besides mobile snatching, around 22,358 motorcycles were snatched, which is 24 percent more as compared to 2015," stated the report. However, CPLC has claimed that car theft and its snatching incidents have reduced substantially in Karachi during 2016. All this is despite the passage of more than three years of Karachi operation, which is claimed to be successful by the Rangers and the provincial government adds the news report.

Unidentified assailants killed a Police constable, Khalid Shaikh (30), near his house on Jamshed Road in the Soldier Bazaar area of Karachi, provincial capital of Sindh.

The special policing powers granted to Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, by the Provincial Government under Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 to carry out raids and arrest suspects ended. The Government had extended the Rangers' Policing powers on October 18, 2016, for 90 days thus entitling them to carry out raids, snap checking and arresting the people in the provincial capital only. Sindh Government, however, had not issued any official statement in connection with extension of the powers by the end of the day.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah approved the summary extending Rangers' special powers in Karachi for 90 days. The special powers will grant Rangers special Policing powers in the metropolis. The summary to extend the powers of the paramilitary force had been sent to Syed Murad Ali Shah by the Home Minister.

The Rangers were given extension last on October 16, 2016 by Murad Ali Shah. Under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, Rangers have been granted special powers to raid and take into custody suspects.

Police recovered four dead bodies from an empty plot in Steel Town area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Malir Town SSP Rao Anwar claimed that the four victims had been shot to death adding that the corpses bore torture marks.

The CoAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa met leaders from the business and trader communities and assured them of continuation of the security operation in Karachi, the statement released by the ISPR said. "The Karachi operation will continue till the elimination of crime in the city," said Army chief. He added that all possible measures will be taken to restore peace in Karachi, and said that the strategy for Karachi would remain the same and there would be no change in policy.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that his Government would never allow terrorists and religious fanatics to play with the lives of innocent people even if the Federal Government refuses to cooperate with it. This he said while presiding over the Sindh cabinet meeting here at the Sindh Secretariat. Briefing the cabinet on the response of Ministry of Interior to ban 94 madrassa's allegedly involved in promoting terrorism, the Chief Minister said that in the Apex committee the list of the madrassa's was presented. The Committee was told that 94 madrassa's were involved in terrorist activities. They had presented solid evidences gathered from the terrorists arrested by Law Enforcement Agencies and they had revealed startling disclosures against the said madrassa's.

A Shia man, Mohammed Kazim Raza (39), was gunned down in suspected sectarian attack in Gulistan-i-Jauhar area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, in the night. "It appeared to be a targeted killing incident linked with sectarianism," said Superintendent Police Dr. Fahad Ahmed.

The CTD claimed to have arrested a would-be suicide bomber and another militant, associated with a banned outfit, who were allegedly involved in major terrorist acts in urban and rural Sindh and operating their networks in four major cities of the province besides Jaffarabad District of Balochistan. In a targeted raid conducted in the Manghopir area of Karachi, the CTD team detained the two suspects, Shaukat (would-be suicide bomber) and Abdul Ghani, and seized explosive material, a suicide jacket, a hand grenade and two pistols from their custody. "The held militants, who belonged to the Brohi tribe and were trained in Balochistan, were operating terror networks in Sukkur, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Sanghar districts in Sindh and Jaffarabad district in Balochistan," said Sindh CTD chief Dr Sanaullah Abbasi.

Sindh Rangers claimed to have killed notorious Lyari gang war commander Noor Muhammad alias Baba Ladla in a shootout in Lyari Town area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Two of Baba Ladla's close associates, Sikandar alias Sikko and Mohammad Yaseen alias Mama, were also killed in the encounter. During the operation, Head Constable Fayyaz and Constable Tufail were also killed. One Kalashnikov, a 9mm pistol, a 9mm mouser and a hand grenade were also recovered from their possession. The "most wanted" suspects were involved in numerous terrorist incidents, said Rangers in a press release. "Baba Ladla was wanted in more than 74 crimes by police," added the press release further. The Sindh government had placed a head money of PKR Three million on Baba Ladla in 2012.

The press release also revealed that Baba Ladla had, with the help of Uzair Baloch, committed the murders of Shera Pathan, Arshad Pappu and Yasir Arafat. It also stated that in March 2013, Baba Ladla had kidnapped a group of Muhajirs and murdered them. The Rangers press release also claimed the other gangster gunned down in the operation, Sikander alias Siku, was wanted in more than 15 crimes by Police. Sikander was described by Rangers as a close aide of Baba Ladla and also his facilitator. In April 2012, Sikander had committed the murder of Station House Officer (SHO) Fawad Khan while in the same year he had also killed Constable Asif, according to the press release. In 2013, he had tortured and subsequently killed two other men. Sikander had also been involved in the sale and purchase of illegal weapons.

Police stopped JuD from holding a 'multiparty conference' (MPC) on Kashmir issue at the press club in Hyderabad city of Sindh reportedly after receiving 'orders' from high-ups in the wake of house arrest of JuD chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. JuD leaders decided to cancel the conference and disperse peacefully. Later, they informed media persons through an SMS that the MPC had to be cancelled because of some 'unavoidable circumstances'. A heavy contingent of Police had sealed the road with barbed wire outside the press club. JuD Sindh emir Faisal Nadeem said the MPC was not organised by JuD only, it was held by Tehreek-i-Azadi Kashmir, a platform founded by JuD and other parties to discuss Kashmir's freedom movement.

Almost 248 Police officials who took part in 1992 and 1996 Karachi operations were killed however, so far only six killers of these cops have been convicted. A total of 378 accused were arrested. Challans submitted in 121 cases out of which in six cases killers have been convicted whereas a total of 55 accused acquitted and the remaining 60 are still under trial. Official statistics show that from 1995 till 2016, almost 1,488 Policemen were killed in the Karachi Range. Although, the most number of Police officials - 261 - were killed in 1995 yet otherwise 2012, 2013 and 2014 were the worst years for the Karachi Police with 123, 165 and 136 killings respectively.

The ongoing Rangers' led operation appears to have been a blessing even for the Karachi Police as killings of Police officials in the city had drastically reduced in 2015 and 2016. In 2016, only 29 Policemen were killed whereas this figure was 67 in 2015. The official data shows that a total of 261 Policemen were killed in 1995 58 were murdered in 1996 74 in 1997 97 in 1998 59 in 1999 49 in 2000 58 in 2001 14 in 2002 19 in 2003 23 in 2004 24 in 2005 40 in 2006 51 in 2007 48 in 2008 41 in 2009 49 in 2010 53 in 2011 123 in 2012 165 in 2013 136 in 2014 67 in 2015 and 29 in 2016.

Outside Karachi in Sindh, Larkana appears to be the most dangerous place for Policemen from 2001 till 2016. Each year's number of Policemen killed in Larkana District during the period (from 2001 till 2016) is 8 7 17 1 6 4 11 21 13 13 13 8 13 20 10 9 and 5 respectively. These figures show that the most difficult time for the Larkana Police has been from 2007 to 2014 - the period during which the killing of policemen remained high. Otherwise, in the Hyderabad District, the Police had a bad time really in 2014 when a total of 27 Police officials got killed.

Six militants were killed in a shoot out with Police during a raid on a chicken farm off Superhighway near the Baqai Medical University in Gadap town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. SSP Malir Rao Anwar Ahmed said that the six militants belonged to AQIS and TTP, and were involved in targeting law enforcement personnel. One of the militant was also involved in the Peshawar Army Public School attack. An ID card was found from his pocket, but the investigators are trying to verify his identity as the card he was carrying may have been faked. Another militant Ibrahim Haydri had allegedly been wanted by Police for his involvement in grenade attacks and firing on various Police officials in different areas of Karachi. "Haydri and the other militants were responsible for the death of around 25 Police personnel," the Rao Anwar Ahmed alleged.

An employee of Samaa TV was killed evening when unidentified assailants opened fire on a Samaa TV DSNG van at KDA Chowrangi near Dolmen Mall in North Nazimabad of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. An assistant cameraman, Taimur, received a bullet wound to the head and was rushed to the nearby Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The media van was in the area to cover an earlier incident, a cracker attack on a Police vehicle, when it was attacked. "Our team members along with the DSNG had gone there to cover the cracker attack on the police vehicle when they came under attack," said Samaa TV's Director News, Farhan Malik. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Central, Muqaddas Haider said the same suspects might be involved in both the incidents and added the cracker attack on the police vehicle did not cause any damage. "It appears that the suspects attacked the Police mobile with a cracker to attract media's attention and when the Samaa team arrived, they chased and attacked it," added Haider.

At least 88 people were killed when a suicide bomber attacked the crowded Sufi shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan Sharif town of Jamshoro District in Sindh, injuring at least 343 others. The blast took place inside the premises of the shrine as a dhamaal was taking place, with a large number of women and children said to be among the casualties. Devotees throng the shrine of the revered Sufi saint every Thursday to participate in a dhamaal and prayers. The Assistant Superintendent of Police in Sehwan said a suicide bomber entered the shrine through its Golden gate. The attacker blew himself up after throwing a grenade, which failed to explode, he added. The ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack through Amaq, the group's affiliated news agency.

At least 18 alleged terrorists were killed in a raid carried out in Ziarat Mai Garhi, Manghopir area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, said a spokesman of Pakistan Rangers Sindh. Arms and ammunition was also seized from the possession of the alleged terrorists said to be affiliated with a proscribed organisation.

Police killed nine TTP militants including would-be suicide bombers during exchange of fire near Super Highway in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. SSP Malir Rao Anwar said the terrorists were planning to attack Rangers Headquarters in Karachi. He said Police carried out raid at the alleged residence of father-in-law of TTP Karachi chapter Amir, where the militants resorted to fire on the arriving police party. In retaliatory fire, nine militants including suicide bombers were killed.

Seven militants were killed and one rangers personnel received injuries during a targeted operation between Pakistan Rangers Sindh and militants in Shah Latif Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. A spokesman for the Pakistan Rangers Sindh revealed that the rangers launched a targeted operation after receiving intelligence reports about the possible presence of terrorists in the area. The forces were shot at by the terrorists and returned fire resulting in the death of seven members of the banned terrorist outfit, some of the terrorists managed to flee from their hideout using the dark as cover, while Police called in backup and cordoned off the area until the terrorists were found. One ranger's personnel also received injuries in this incident. A large number of arms and ammunitions were also recovered from the hideout and it was revealed that the terrorists were planning a terrorist activity of substantial scale in the area.

A cracker blast injured 24 persons in the jurisdiction of Makki Shah Police Station in Hyderabad District, ahead of a strike called by the banned JSMM against the CPEC. Initial reports suggested that the cracker was lobbed from Sakhi Abdul Wahab Shah Jillani flyover on a road where shops of second-hand clothes and shoes are located.

SFs arrested the alleged facilitator of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar suicide bomber from the outskirts of Khairpur town in the same District. Sources said the alleged facilitator, during initial interrogation, has revealed that Hafeez Birohi group of Shikarpur is involved in Sehwan Sharif bombing. Hafeez Birohi group, who was previously affiliated to LeJ, has been associated with ISIS now. The same group was also involved in Shikarpur bombings. The suicide bomber was Afghan national and the suicide vest was also prepared in Shikarpur, the investigation further revealed. Sources said the car used to target ISI headquarters in Sukkur was also prepared in Shikarpur.

Sindh security establishment has proposed to the Government that a dedicated force be raised to keep an eye on its border with Balochistan after it was found that the suspects involved in the recent terrorist attacks here had come from the neighbouring province, said officials. This proposal was discussed at multiple meetings held between the security officials and top administrative authorities, including Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, after the suicide attack on Lal Shahbaz Qalandar's shrine in Sehwan.

Investigations into the recent terrorism activities convinced the relevant authorities that their planners, handlers and perpetrators had come from the neighbouring province. "A similar thought or proposal emerged in October last year as well after it was found that the suspects involved in two terrorists attacks in Shikarpur in September 2015 had come from Balochistan," said a senior official. "The findings pushed the Sindh authorities to take up the matter with their Balochistan counterparts and tighten security along the border and as the first step they deployed policemen at key border points," he said, adding that the Sindh government then had deployed a total of 400 policemen on its side of the border.

Unidentified assailants lobbed a hand grenade at a residential building in Lyari town of Karachi, leaving one woman injured. Police said 30-year-old Gul Nisa was injured when two men riding a motorbike hurled a hand grenade at the entrance of a building in Afshani Gali and sped away.

Pakistan Rangers Sindh recovered a cache of arms from Landhi area Karachi. A Rangers communication said that a raid was conducted on an intelligence tip off that some miscreants belonging to MQM-London had hidden arms and ammunition with the intention of committing sabotage. It said that Rangers took prompt action and during search recovered arms and ammunition hidden on the rooftop. This consisted of weapons and ammunition including six Kalashnikovs, five magazines, one rifle of 8 mm, two 7mm rifles, one repeater, five pistols of 30 bore, and 554 rounds.

Police shot dead eight terrorists including a key militant figure affiliated with a banned organization during a raid on Bakrapeeri Road in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. According to SSP Malir Rao Anwar, the suspected terrorists were killed during the raid on a tip off regarding presence of Gul Zaman, Amir of a proscribed outfit. He said the terrorists were planning to carry out an act of terrorism in Karachi.

According to report compiled by the Inspector General of Sindh Police, a significant decline in the number of targeted killings in Karachi has been witnessed in 2016 as compared to 2015 showing 72 per cent drop. The report said that the Police recorded 45 targeted killings in the city last year, which it described as a huge as compared to 159 such killings in 2015. The report discussing crime and militancy in Sindh, however, does not show any visible improvement vis-a-vis incidents of terrorism. It shows six terrorist incidents last year while seven such incidents occurred in 2015. Some 188 cases of extortion were registered last year which were 27pc less than 256 such cases in 2015.

Police shot dead two IS militants, identified as Saifullah and Haneef, in Manghopir area Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. According to sources, Police came under attack when it raided their hideout. One policeman received injuries during the gun battle while both the militants were killed and their accomplices managed to flee the scene. SSP, West Zone, Nasir Aftab said they found a hit list that included names of Police officers and other Government officials on the laptop.

The Sindh Home Department issued a notification that contained certain areas of Karachi which could be on the terrorists' agenda next. According to details, a notification by the Sindh Home Department stated that Sindh High Court, Empress Market, Sindh Assembly, Zainab Market, markets located at M.A. Jinnah Road and the restaurants located at Do Darya, could next be targeted by militants.

Investigators probing the attack on the shrine of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, detained four people suspected of facilitating the attack during raids conducted in different parts of Sindh, including Shikarpur. Source said that the suspects were affiliated with Hafeez Brohi and Abdullah Brohi, who were part of a banned sectarian outfit and were involved in various terrorist activities, particularly facilitating terrorists and suicide bombers. "Hafeez and Abdullah Brohi are on the wanted list since they have been involved in terror activities including bombings in Shikarpur and Sukkur," said CTD in-charge Raja Omar Khattab.

The CTD of both Sindh and Balochistan Police decided to launch a "joint operation" in parts of the country's largest province where the intelligence wings of the law-enforcement agency had identified "hideouts" of suspects allegedly involved in recent terrorist attacks in Sindh. High officials flew from Karachi to Quetta, where a meeting of the CTD from both provinces was scheduled. After hours of deliberations and presentations, the Sindh Police authorities finally convinced their counterparts about the presence of the hideouts of some banned militant outfits in Balochistan which were used by terrorists for the recent attacks in Sindh. "It was a formal meeting after our earlier correspondence and intelligence-sharing," said Chief of the Sindh Police's CTD Additional IG Sanaullah Abbasi. "We showed them not only the findings of a JIT (joint interrogation team) report about high-profile militants but also data and reports of our intelligence units that strengthened our case. The Balochistan authorities agreed to cooperate with us and move with Sindh police in pursuit of these hideouts," he added.

One militant was killed and four others arrested during a raid by CTD personnel in Korangi Town area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. According to CTD official, Raja Umar Khattab, the terrorist killed by forces was identified as Dildaar alias Chacha, who was reportedly an expert in making explosives. He said that the detainees had been planning a terrorist attack when their hideout was raided. A large amount of explosive material, detonators and weapons were recovered from the site.

Unnamed Officials involved in anti terrorist operations have revealed that LeJ, a proscribed organization, particularly active in the port city of Karachi (provincial capital of Sindh) and Quetta (provincial capital of Baluchistan). The Organization is still the prime target of LEA for its close liaison with banned JuA. Most of the organization's activists have gone underground to escape arrests. The officials claim that LeJ's almost 90 percent network has been disabled by eliminating its top leadership. According to the officials, LeJ ties with ISIS surfaced last year when terrorists attacked the Police academy in Quetta in October. The group is active in Karachi and Quetta with two deferent off-shoot groups namely the Naeem Bukhari Group in Karachi and LeJ Al-Alami in Quetta.

The Pakistan Rangers Sindh recovered a cache of arms and ammunition during an intelligence based operation from the storeroom of the Safari Park on the University Road in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Pakistan Rangers Sindh spokesman said weapons recovered include rifles, SMGs, LMGs, hand grenades, snipers and large number of bullets.

A portion of railway tracks damaged when an IED went off at Misri Shah area near Rohri Railway Station in Sukkur District of Sindh in the evening. SP Special Branch Mansoor Mughal said that the service of Karachi-bound Shalimar Express that passes through Rohri has been halted until the track is repaired. According to the Bomb Disposal Squad, some 2.5 kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the blast.

A cracker blast at the Mehrabpur Railway Station in Naushahro Firoz District damaged a foot-long part of the track, interrupting trains travelling up and down the tracks.

The CTD personnel shot dead a terrorist during snap checking at Sukkur-Shikarpur link road in Sukkur District of Sindh in the evening. According to SP Irfan Samo, CTD personnel, during snap checking signalled three men riding on a motorcycle to pull over. The militants opened fire on CTD personnel that was retaliated. One terrorist was killed, while two others managed to flee during the encounter.

Two Pakistan Rangers Sindh personnel were killed during a raid to arrest militants trained in Syria and Afghanistan and working for foreign intelligence agencies were arrested from Mawaach Goth area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Briefing media on the raid, Rangers spokesperson Colonel Qaisar said that they raided a militant hideout in Mawaach Goth area on a tipoff that militants of AQIS have entered in the metropolis for subversive activities. 'Eight KG explosives, one suicide vest, four ball bearing bombs and four SMGs were seized from the suspects,' Colonel Qaiser explained, further adding that 'two Rangers personnel were martyred during the raid.' The LEAs also recovered 360-degree images of a site were from their possession, he said. Tahir Zaman aka Boxer Mota was trained in Afghanistan. IED expert Nawaz joined the AQIS group in 2012, he also provided medical services to another terrorist, Javed Swati. The third suspect, Bilal, was a close associate of main suspect Tahir who was involved in the Safoora attack.

Police arrested a target killer affiliated to MQM-L, identified as Kamran s/o Jumma Khan, from Joharabad area of Karachi. Police said Kamran is involved in two murder cases in Orangi Town

A doctor, identified as Dr Zulfiqar, was killed when two unidentified assailants called out him from his house and opened fire in Kharadar area of Saddar Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, in the night. Dr. Zulfiqar used to run a clinic in Khadda Market.

Police carried out various searches in Upper Gizri, Mominabad, Manghopir and Steel Town Areas and rounded up 88 suspects from the areas. In another raid in Lyari's Sango Lane area, Police nabbed a gangster affiliated with Uzair Baloch group.

A suspected gangster, identified as Ghulam Nabi alias Gull, was shot dead in an 'encounter' in Kalakot area of Lyari town in Karachi, reports Dawn. The Police have seized a TT pistol and a hand grenade from his custody. The deceased was associated with the Uzair Baloch-led Lyari gang, the Police said. "He looked after drug business in Lyari," an unnamed officer added.

In a recent study carried out by Sindh CTD about educated 'hardcore militants' in the province's jails, revealed that out of 500 surveyed militants, at least 64 have a Masters degree or higher. As many as 70 militants have a Bachelors degree and 63 have completed their matriculate and intermediate.

Police claimed to have arrested a target killer belonging to MQM-L from Gulberg Town in Karachi. According to Gulberg SP Bashir Brohi, Jauharabad police arrested Umar Farooque alias Rashid Charya alias Rashid Kalla. Charya has been involved in at least 12 cases of target killing and terrorism. A pistol with five bullets has been recovered from him. "He joined Unit 131 of MQM in 1995. During the course of interrogation he has revealed multiple terrorist activities in Karachi," the SP said. He said further Charya attacked Baloch Goth in 1995-96 in which five people were killed, including his own accomplice Jameel.

An ATC in Karachi awarded 17 years' imprisonment to two MQM-L activists each for attacking a police mobile and possessing illegal arms. After the prosecution proved the charges against Mohsin alias Peter and Raees alias Kala, the court sentenced them to 17 years in prison and imposed a fine of PKR 80,000 on each convict, observing that they had not only targeted the police but also possessed illegal arms. According to the prosecution, the MQM-L workers had attacked the police mobile in Pirabad police jurisdiction in 2011. Both were arrested after an encounter with a police team and illegal arms were found on them.

16 people including women and children were injured in Lyari Jhatpat Market of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, when a hand grenade blast took place. Shakir alias Shakkar, a Gang War commander from the Baba Ladla group is reportedly behind the attack, a source from Lyari informed.

SFs recovered weapons buried in Karachi's Lal Qila Ground in Azizabad in Karachi. The weapons recovered included SMGs, LMGs, 9mm pistols and a large number of cartridges.

SFs arrested three wanted suspects, including two members of the banned BLA. In the first incident, the SFs raided hideouts of Lyari gang war suspects Sajid Dakait, Jameel Changa, and Bilal Pappu and arrested two members of the BLA. According to sources, the three suspects, who reside in Dubai, were operating a drug den in the Ghazi Khan vicinity with the help of accomplices Arif Tiki, Obaid Langra, and Fahad Baloch. In a separate raid, an important member of the Lyari gang war, Amin Baloch, was arrested during a raid at Lyari General Hospital. According to the police, Amin was a vital accomplice of Lyari gang war's Zahid Ladla and the younger brother of gang war suspect Wasim Qasargandi. Amin had been arrested by Rangers in the past and had spent time in prison. He had been wanted by the police in a number of criminal cases.

PPP-led Sindh Government extended Sindh Rangers special powers in Karachi for another 90 days. The policing powers of paramilitary Rangers had expired on April 15 after which a summary was forwarded to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah seeking extension of the special powers of Rangers.

Five persons, including three terrorists, wife of one of them, and a 5-years-old boy, were killed while four Rangers personnel were injured in an encounter in the area of Urdu Bazaar of Karachi, Sindh. Sources said that, on a tip off, Rangers and security agencies carried out a raid on a hide out of terrorists in Urdu bazaar. On spotting Rangers, terrorist attacked on them with cracker bombs. As a result four Rangers personnel sustained injuries. In retaliatory firing by Rangers one terrorist was killed while the other was arrested. However the terrorists and Rangers personnel continued to trade firing. Blasts were also heard during the exchange of firing. Five terrorists, including one female, and a 5-year-old boy died in this seven hours long operation. According to Rangers, the deceased boy and female were residing in the respective hide out along with suspects and boy was killed as a result of explosion from terrorists. Weapons and explosives have been recovered from their possession. SATP had earlier reported that one terrorist was killed in the operation.

Reports indicate that the killed militants belonged to banned outfit Jandullah. Rangers have arrested 10 suspects, including the flat owner, to investigate further. Huge cache of weapon was also recovered from the flat.

Rangers personnel and the CTD of the Sindh Police claim to have arrested eight suspects during raids and operations in different parts of Karachi. According to Rangers spokesperson, Saeedul Hassan alias China and Syed Omar Aijaz alias Omar alias Maaz alias Musab, Saleem alias Chosni, Furqan alias Shooter, Abu Bakar, Ibrahim alias Hyderi, Sikandar and Asif Pathan were arrested in the operation. The Rangers spokesperson has claimed that the accused persons were affiliated with AQIS, adding that the accused persons were involved in attacks on police and Rangers check posts in Nazimabad and Gulshan-e-Iqbal. They were also accused of being involved in various cases of crime and terrorism, including target killings, wall chalking, extortion, robberies, and facilitating terrorism. The Rangers spokesperson said that arms and ammunition were also recovered from their possession.

CTD of Larkana Police claimed to have arrested two terrorists in two separate incidents from Larkana District and Jacobabad District, and recovered weapons, explosive material from their possession. CTD Larkana SP Abdullah Ahmed Yar said, "One of the detainees was identified as Qari Muhammad Bilal who was arrested from Shaikh Zayed Morr area of Larkana. He is affiliated with banned outfit LeJ and other terrorist groups of Punjab. He is a resident of Rajanpur (Punjab) and was also awarded death sentence in 2008 for murder. Since then he had been absconding." In another action, the CTD SP said a member of BRA, Abid Shah, was arrested along with a pistol and explosive material from Jacobabad. "The detainee was involved in carrying out bomb blasts on railway tracks, gas pipelines and electricity poles, and an FIR had already been registered against him in Kashmore for targeting Khushal Khan Khattak Express in 2015," the SP said.

The Sindh Police's CTD has decided to execute a comprehensive plan that its team had prepared for deradicalisation of militants from this month. A core team comprising forensic psychiatrist and psychologist, facilitator or mediator, religious scholar and a CTD official has already been established for this purpose, sources said. A few young suspected militants, who are in custody for indulging in 'minor' activities, were selected for a pilot project in the first phase of the deradicalisation plan, said Sindh CTD chief Additional Inspector General of Police Dr Sanaullah Abbasi. He said a number of sessions with those youngsters would be held possibly at the CTD office in Garden police headquarters and if need be, such sessions might be held at their residences.

LEAs claimed to have arrested three alleged terrorists at Taaja Shaakh (water channel), in the limits of Dadupur Police Station of Ghari Khairo tehsil of Jacobabad District in Sindh. LEAs recovered 3 kilograms explosive substance from their possession According to SSP Jacobabad ,Sarfraz Nawaz Shaikh, Dadupur Police and law enforcers cordoned off the area and succeeded in arresting three alleged terrorists, later, identified as Nawabuddin son of Meer Muhammad aka Sher Muhammad Sandrani, resident of Baluchistan province, Balach Khan by caste Banglani, resident of Thull town of Jacobabad, Karim Dino son of Waris Dino Banglani, resident of Thull town of Jacobabad and seized 3kg explosive substance from their possession, SSP claimed.

A report of an Islamabad-based security think tank CRSS shows that Sindh is the only province of the country where fatalities from violence have suddenly increased during the first quarter of this year. The quarterly report issued by the CRSS, however, states that the other provinces show a decline in violence-related casualties, when compared to data from last year's corresponding period. During the first three months of the current year, there were 1,129 reported casualties - 594 dead and 535 wounded - across Pakistan. Regionally, Sindh is the most violent region, followed by FATA, Punjab and Balochistan. Sindh is the only province to witness a rise in violence-related casualties. Unlike in the past, Karachi is not the principal factor in the rise in the rate of homicides, Muhammad Nafees, a Karachi-based security expert associated with the CRSS, told The News.

While ongoing military operations against proscribed militant outfits, such as the TTP and the LeJ, have forced terrorists to go into hiding, the Islamic State (or Daesh) has shown its presence in Sindh and Balochistan by claiming major suicide attacks on two Sufi shrines, adds the CRSS report.

The CTD of Sindh with the collaboration of intelligence agency arrested one BLA cadre, involved in blew up of SSGC pipeline, from in Lyari Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. An explosion had damaged the Sui gas pipeline near Madinatul Hikmat area of Manghopir on May 17 causing damage to the 16-inch diameter gas pipeline. Though no loss of life was reported from the explosion but due to the incident, gas supply to Manghopir, Banaras, and nearby areas was disrupted.

Four assailants, riding on two Bikes, opened fire on a Police van left two Policemen killed and one critically injured near Doraji in the jurisdiction of New Town Police Station in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. East zone SSP Faisal Abdullah said unidentified assailants fired at New Town Police Station's mobile van during routine patrolling, injuring three police personnel. ASI Iftikhar and Head Constable Raja Younus later succumbed to injuries at hospital. The SSP Faisal Abdullah added that 30-bore and 9-mm pistols were used in the incident.

A major terrorism bid was foiled as Pakistan Rangers Sindh arrested six suspected militants from Scout Colony area of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh.

The Counter-Terrorism Department claimed to have killed a wanted gangster in an encounter near Naurus Chowangi area of Site area in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. The killed gangster, identified as Mohammed Sohail alias DC, was allegedly involved in targeted killings of at least 10 people including a local reporter, minority members, Police and workers of MQM, said CTD Senior SSP Omer Shahid Hamid. The deceased was associated with Lyari's gangsters, Wasiullah Lakho and Taj Mohammed alias Taju. He had fled to Dubai in order to avoid being arrested, revealed the SSP Omer Shahid.

The Sindh Government announced a 10 per cent increase in the budget for security with a plan to recruit 10,000 more Policemen in the next financial year to "improve police-to-citizens ratio, especially in Karachi". "When hate rhetoric permeates our worshipping places, our educational institutions and media outlets, we are faced with a clear and present danger at our doorsteps," said CM Syed Murad Ali Shah while delivering his budget speech in the Sindh Assembly. The CM said the budgetary allocation for security in the financial year 2017-18 was proposed at PKR 92.91 billion, reflecting an increase of 10pc over the allocation of PKR 84.26bn during the outgoing fiscal year. It is proposed that 10,000 new posts of different ranks will be created in Sindh police and PKR two billion will be spent on purchasing vehicles for the law enforcement agency. "Forensic laboratory at an estimated cost of PKR 2.6 billion is being constructed to provide Sindh police state-of-the-art centre to investigate and solve complex crimes," CM Shah said, referring to key features of the budget proposal for the provincial security apparatus.

Police arrested four people, including two Police personnel, for running a 'torture cell' in which they held people after kidnapping them for ransom in Rohri town of Sukkur District in Sindh. A special team led by Sukkur DIG Feroze Shah arrested four suspects, including Police officials Mohammad Jawed Khero and Naeem Ahmed, during a raid in Rohri. However, the ringleader and in-charge of the 'torture cell', former Sub-Inspector Ayaz Khero managed to flee during the raid. Khero had been dismissed from the Police service over allegations of corruption and extortion. The suspects used to kidnap people in the guise of checking from Sukkur and other areas and later locked them up in the torture cell.

Three SHOs were suspended after a large number of people took to the streets and blocked a section of the Hyderabad bypass for six hours in protest against the killing of a villager in, what the Phulelli Police claimed, was an 'encounter'. Relatives of the victim, Wali Mohammad Chang - a resident of Chang Goth located off Hala Naka Road - said he was actually picked up by Police at around 11am on June 8 and the Police claimed to have killed him in the alleged encounter at around 11pm. "He [Wali] was fasting ... he was going to buy fruits when residents of the village saw Police picking him up at around 11am," his younger brother, Mairaj Chang, said while speaking to journalists at the Liaquat University Hospital (LUH), city branch.

The CTD of Sindh Police prepared a consolidated list of websites, web pages and social media accounts spreading extremism and terrorism. The CTD has written a letter to the PTA, FIA and other authorities for closing/banning of such websites, web pages and social media accounts to foil the designs of banned militant organisations. "We have identified 25 such websites, which were involved in spreading religious and ethnic extremism and terrorism," said CTD chief AIG Dr Sanaullah Abbasi. He said the CTD had sent a list of 25 sites with the recommendation that they should be banned by the PTA. These sites were linked with banned organisations or promoting radical thought, he added.

Unidentified militants shot dead four Policemen, who were sitting at a roadside eatery for Iftar in the SITE Town area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. SITE town SP Asif Ahmed Bughio said that four Policemen were about to break their fast at a restaurant located between the Siemens and Habib Bank traffic intersections when two armed motorcyclists emerged there, fired a volley of bullets at them and rode away. The victims were identified as ASI Mohammed Yusuf and constables Shabbir, Khalid and Israr. A hitherto unknown militant outfit, Jamaat-ul-Ansar al-Shariah Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The CTD official Raja Umer Khattab said that the Police found a pamphlet from the scene of the crime and it appeared that the assailants threw it there before fleeing. Sharing details, the official said that the pamphlet was from the so-called spokesperson of the newly-formed outfit, in which he claimed responsibility of the killing of the Policemen. Khattab said that it was the second attack in Karachi which was claimed by the group. The name of this group first emerged in April when it claimed responsibility for the targeted killing of a retired colonel, Tahir Zia Nagi, in Baloch Colony. The Jamaat-ul-Ansar al-Shariah was established in Libya and Tunisia in 2011 but it was reactivated in 2014. This outfit had mostly targeted law enforcers as well as Americans, Khattab added.

Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) arrested two wanted members of Lyari gangsters, Muhammad Omair and Zaheer Khan, in Madina Colony of Lyari Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh.

A Lyari gangster, identified as Wasla, was shot dead in a Police encounter at Nippier Road under the jurisdiction of Nippier Police Station in Lyari Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. According to Police, the deceased was affiliated with the Uzair Baloch gang and involved in murders, grenade attacks, kidnapping for ransom, attack on Police mobile and other heinous crime.

An IED explosion was reported from an area near Jama Mosque Mohammadi in the Bin-Qasim town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Though no casualties were reported, however, the green belt of the road was damaged. DIG East Arif Hanif stated, "Sindhudesh Liberation Army is involved in the incident as its terrorists have been doing such activities in all over the Sindh to disturb the peace." He informed that suspects of Sindhudesh Liberation Army (also known as Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army, SRA) had claimed to have planted bomb on the green belt to target the convoy of Chinese engineers but likely the convoy passed through the spot earlier. According to the DIG the suspects involved have left some pamphlets on the spot claiming the responsibility of the blast. Sindhudesh Liberation Army issued a letter to media claiming the responsibly. Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army claims the responsibility of the bomb attacks on Chinese Engineers in Karachi today (July 10) and warns the Chinese that they should not become the part of any Project in Sindh which may be against the national interest of Sindhis. SRA will continue its struggle till the freedom of Sindhudesh.

Sindh CM Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed police department to provide adequate security to the Chinese working on CPEC related projects and install jammers in their vehicles when they travel from one are to another. The Chief Minister said that there are over nine CPEC projects in Sindh, work on all these seven projects is in progress where 3044 Chinese are working in them . These projects and their workforce, particularly the Chinese are very important for the development of the country in general and Sindh in particular. They should have foolproof security as it was decided at the start of the CPEC projects.

Home Secretary Qazi Shahid Parvez briefing the Chief Minister said that seven security headquarters of each project with a 3044 well trained police force have been deployed for the security of Chinese. He added that Pakistan Army leads their security apparatus. He added that the eighth project of NTDC Transmission line from Matirai to Lahore has been launched where 15 Chinese have been engaged. "We have provided them a security force of 65 personnel," he said. The Chief Minister said according to the data available with some 137 non-CEPEC projects are going on in the province where 1971 Chinese are working. "What arrangement have you made for their security, he asked the home secretary. The home secretary said that 1373 personnel have been deployed on their security. Additional IG Karachi Mushtaq Maher said that with the approval of the Chief Minister Sindh police have raised a Special Protection Unit (SPU) to maintain an effective security response and to avert any threat to Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects. He added that the total sanctioned strength of SPU is 2662 against which 1349 are working while 1313 posts are vacant for which recruitment process was in progress. DIG RRF & SPU Amin Yousifzai said that nine projects have been expanded to 11. Talking about the security arrangements he said that the coal-based power Plant at Port Qasim have been provided a force of 563 personnel which include 30 army men, 193 SPU, 149 Rangers, 17 FC, 17 policemen and 157 private security guards. Similarly, Thar project of Block-II has been given security of 413 personnel while 46 personnel have been deployed on Thar power project Block-I. He added that for the security of four wind power projects in Thatta district a force of 555 personnel has been deployed. The DIG said that for 126 km long NDTC transmission line from Sukkur to Ghotki a force 1197 personnel has been deployed. For the transmission line from Matirai to Lahore/Faisalabad a force of 76 personnel has been deployed for the security of Chinese. The 548 km railway line being laid from Karachi to Peshawar has been given a force of 75 personnel for the Sindh section.

On the intelligence tip a team of AVCC raided Dhobi Ghat area in the remit of Garden Police Station area in Saddar Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, and arrested a suspect, identified as Naseem, along with weapons. He is affiliated with MQM-L and is also involved in many incidents of target killing. After initial interrogation from the suspect the Police recovered more weapons on his pointation which were concealed underground in the Old City area. According to the police Naseem has confessed that he killed various people on the directives of his leader ship in London and the weapons he had concealed were kept for using in terror activates in future.

Pakistan Rangers Sindh arrested suspect Arif alias Takki from the Pak-Colony area of Site Town in Karachi. Takki was affiliated with Arshad Pappu group of Lyari Gang War and was involved in many incident of crime, including killing, kidnapping and extortion. Nowadays he was active in the area as 'commander' of Golimar area.

Sindh Government has given 90-day extension to the special powers of rangers in Karachi Division under the Anti-terrorism Act. The period of the special powers of rangers in Karachi Division was to end on July 12. However, CM Syed Murad Ali Shah approved a summary to give 90-day extension to the special powers of the rangers in Karachi Division. However, the final notification in this regard would be issued by the Federal Government.

Two workers of PSP were killed in a suspected targeted attack in Orangi Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. According to Superintendent of Police Abid Ali Baloch the PSP workers, Abdul Hameed alias Nadeem alias Mulla (55) and Rashid Khan (50), were sitting at a corner of a street near Qazafi Chowk behind Sindh Government Qatar Hospital when armed pillion riders attacked them and fled.

Abdur Razzak Shaikh, a former security officer of PPP MNA and sister of Party Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, Faryal Talpur, was shot dead in an act of targeted killing in District Central at Haji Mureed Goth within the limits of Gulbahar Police Station in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Abdur Razzak Shaikh was shot multiple times and was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medical treatment where he succumbed to his injuries. His body was handed over to his family for burial. He was shot at least twice with a close range. DSP Zafar Khan said that the incident occurred when the victim was sitting outside his residence when at least two armed men riding a motorcycle shot him. Razzak was also a close aide of Zardari's chief protocol officer Bilal Shaikh who had been killed a few years ago in a suicide attack in Karachi. Bilal's brother, Khan Shaikh, said that the deceased had served as Talpur's security officer and had previously served as a security officer at Zardari House. He had been a founding member of Jannisar-e -Benazir.

Three Policemen and a 12-year-old boy were killed after six unidentified assailants opened fire on a Police van parked near Darul Uloom in Korangi town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. SP Landhi Arif Aslam confirmed that an Awami Colony Police mobile was the target of the attack. The dead personnel were identified as ASI Qamar Din, Constable Babar Ali and Constable Amjad. The identity of the boy is still not known.

Four militants, including Mullah Akbar Swati, the chief of AQIS Karachi chapter, were killed in an encounter with Police during a raid in the Sachal area of Malir Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. "The spy agencies traced a telephone call in the morning that the terrorists were going to hold a gathering in the area," Malir SSP Rao Anwar said. "The surveillance of the area was increased following intelligence sharing, and preparations were made for the arrest of the outlaws." "However, the terrorists opened fire on the police team that reached the site of terrorists' gathering," the SSP said, adding that the Police retaliated and killed four of them. Following the encounter, a heavy contingent of Rangers reached the site and started searching the area to nab other terrorists.

A traffic Constable was killed and another injured when unidentified assailants riding pillion on a motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire at Abul Hasan Ispahani Road in Sohrab Goth area of Karachi. Gadap town Superintendent of Police Chaudhry Saifullah confirmed the incident, stating that both traffic wardens had been attacked near the Paradise Bakery. "Apparently, today's incident appeared to be part of a recent wave of attacks on law enforcers in the city," stated the CTD's SSP Omar Shahid Hamid.

Two IS militants were shot dead in an exchange of fire with SFs during raid on a house in Sector 21-B of Shah Latif Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Shah Latif Town SHO Amanullah Marwat said the militants were allegedly involved in the targeted killing of 15 people, including a DSP, Traffic, Faiz Shigri. One of the deceased was identified as Abu Huzaifa, while the name of the other militant could not be ascertained immediately, said SHO Marwat. "Abu Huzaifa was previously associated with AQIS, but later on he joined IS," said Malir SSP Rao Anwar.

Sindh IGP, A.D. Khowaja, said that talks with different companies and consultants were under way to install 10,000 cameras in Karachi under the safe city project and expressed the hope that work on the project would start soon. Speaking at a ceremony held to hand over 45 Toyota pick-ups among the investigation wing of Police at the Police headquarters in Garden area of Saddar Town in Karachi and talking to journalists after the ceremony, the IGP Khowaja said that all possible efforts were being made to enhance the capacity of the police force. IGP Khowaja said that as part of enhancing the capacity of Police, more weapons such as SMGs and pistols were being purchased from Pakistan Ordnance Factory in Wah. He said that Karachi was a megacity and under such a situation, carrying pistol was more advisable than SMGs. Around 12,000 pistols would be procured while in the past Police had only 3,000 pistols. At least 10,000 bulletproof jackets would also be purchased as at present the Police had only 18,000 such jackets, he added.

The CTD shot dead three militants in a late night encounter at Machar Colony area of Kiamari Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. According to SSP Shahid Hamid, on a tip-off, CTD carried out a targeted raid in a house at Machar Colony, where Policemen entered the house to approach the alleged terrorists, they suddenly resorted to firing. After heavy exchange of fire three militants got killed, while four others arrested. CTD recovered a cache of arms and IEDs.

Pakistan Rangers Sindh conducted an operation and arrested two suspected militants from a residential building near the Lal Flat located on the Rashid Minhas road.

Contrary to their previous assumption that one single outfit has been targeting Policemen and retired personnel of law enforcement agencies, CTD officials now conclude that there are numerous splinter groups - of either TTP or LeJ- responsible for the spate of attacks in recent months. "There are multiple groups involved in targeted killings of policemen in the city," said CTD's chief ADGP Sanaullah Abbasi. He said the CTD assessed that there were apparently separate militant groups involved in around half a dozen acts of terrorism in the metropolis as their modus operandi were different in each case. TTP has formed a special cell to target LEA personnel. They were operating in the East and West zones of the Police's organisational structure.

The CTD conducted a search operation in the Al-Kareem Islamic Academy located in SITE Town area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, allegedly linked with the TTP and arrested seven persons for interrogation. CTD SSP Omar Shahid Hamid said that a team, along with District Administration and District Police, had conducted a search operation in the Al-Kareem Islamic Academy which had been established by Mufti Shakir, a "dangerous terrorist and TTP commander". "Mufti Shakir is responsible for a number of police murders in District Central and West in 2013-14, and is suspected of involvement in the murder of SSP Chaudhry Aslam," added the officer.

A Traffic DSP and his driver were shot dead in Hussainabad area of Azizabad Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. As per initial reports, DSP Hanif was on his way home from office when unidentified assailants opened fire on his vehicle in Hussainabad, said SSP, Central, Muqadas Haider.

Two militants belonging to the TTP Mufti Shakir group were killed during an encounter with the CTD personnel in the Manghopir area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. According to a CTD press release, an operation was carried out in the Manghopir area to intercept the two 'TTP men' reportedly coming from Balochistan, based on information gathered from the 'terrorists' apprehended by the CTD in last week in Machhar Colony. The apprehended terrorists also claimed that Abdul Jabbar was on his way to Karachi from Balochistan, with plans to attack jamaat khanas, imambargahs, shrines and Police training centres and important officials of security agencies. The team, with the use of the CTD's intelligence, was able to set up check posts in the city. As soon as the terrorists' vehicle reached Manghophir, the Police signalled them to stop, the CTD said, after which the terrorists began firing at the Police. The terrorists, namely Abdul Jabbar and Daniyal were killed on the spot by the Police's retaliatory firing, the CTD handout read. According to CTD forensic scans run on two pistols recovered from the 'terrorists', the weapons were used in the 2015 target killing of a Police Sub-Inspector in Baldia Town.

One Police Qaumi razakar was killed and another was injured in a firing incident in the Northern Bypass area in Karachi. SSP Malir Rao Anwar said the two razakars, wearing Police uniforms, were standing at a Police chowki near the bypass when unidentified assailants opened fire on them.

Two TTP militants were killed in shootout during an IBO jointly conducted by CTD and Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) at Noorani Basti in Korangi Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, in the early hours. CTD SSP Raja Umar Khattab said that an IBO jointly carried out in search of militants at Noorani Basti when the Policemen entered a house the militants restored to firing and after a heavy exchange of fire two militants belonged to TTP got killed. CTD said that killed militants were involved in murder of two Traffic Policemen, Constable Kamran and Head Constable Mohammad Khan, at Abul Hasan Ispahani Road. CTD claimed to have recovered weapons and other materials from the alleged terrorists who had affiliation with TTP's Mufti Shakir Group and involved in other sabotage activities in the city.

The Sindh High Court transferred 14 cases including cases against LeJ's high profile suspected target killers Ishaq alias Bobby and Mohammad Asim alias Ahmed alias Capri nominated in the Amjad Sabri murder case, to Anti-Terrorism Court-16 (ATC-16). The Sindh High Court Inspection Team-II issued a notification regarding transfer of the cases to ATC-16. The court has received the notification. The court heard the Amjad Sabri case along with over a dozen of other cases against the two suspected militants of LeJ. The court issued production orders of the accused. The accused were arrested by the CTD in November 2016 for their alleged involvement in over 12 dozen cases pertaining to targeted killings of Army personnel, Rangers, Police officials and members of the Shia community.

The CTD Sindh claimed to have arrested a target killer belonging to Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London MQM-L who was involved in over a hundred cases of target killing from Qasba Colony area of Orangi Town and recovered huge cache of dumped weapons, from Shehzad Mor within the limits of Pirabad Police Station in Frontier Colony, Orangi Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. PBTIG in-charge of CTD Mazhar Mashwani stated that the arrested target killer Imran alias Mama has remained underground after 2013 until he was arrested on informer's information from his hideout. Imran was rounded up in a midnight raid when team of CTD, on spy's information raided near Qasba Colony, Shehzad Mor under Pirabad Police Station and recovered dumped weapons including five repeaters action pumps 12 bore, two rifles, one 8mm rifle, one KK and over 500 rounds of bullets.

Two people including a child were killed in an attack in which MQM-P leader Khwaja Izharul Hassan escaped unhurt in the Buffer Zone area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, in the morning. According to details, Khwaja Izharul Hassan, who is also the leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly survived the assassination attempt when he was leaving a mosque after offering Eid-ul-Azha prayers. Police said a child and one of Hassan's security guards were killed in the attack by unidentified assailants clad in police uniform riding on the motorcycles. Three other persons were also injured in the gunshot. An assailant was also killed in the retaliatory fire while another was injured but managed to flee, Police added. The shell of a 9mm pistol bullet was also found from the crime scene.

Police in a shootout killed four suspected terrorists, including TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah's cousin, Khursheed, in Karachi city's Sadaf Society locality. Malir Town SSP Rao Anwar claimed that Khursheed has been involved in various incidents of terrorism, including the attack on Malala Yousafzai and attacks on law enforcement personnel. He said all the slain terrorists belonged to TTP-Swat. Anwar said Police conducted a raid in the area after getting information on the presence of members of banned outfit, Ansarul Shariah.

One Policeman and one militant were killed while another Policeman injured during a Police operation in Kaneez Fatima Society in Malir Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. According to details, Police and Rangers conduct operation on information given by already arrested militants. During the raid, fire exchange started between militants and Police resulted in killing of policeman. One militant was killed while one remained successful in fleeing the scene. According to SSP, Malir Town, Rao Anwar, the name of fleeing terrorist is Sarosh Siddique. "He is mastermind of attack on MQM-P leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan on Eid day," SSP Malir said. "He is central commander of banned militant organisation Ansar-ul-Shariah and close associate of killed terrorist, Hassan," Anwar further added. Sarosh Siddique was a student of Applied Physics in Karachi University, sources mentioned.

SFs claimed to have arrested head of newly-emerged outfit ASP in an intelligence-based operation conducted in Kaniz Fatima Society of Gulzar-e-Hijri in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. As per details, Police along with other intelligence forces conducted a raid in Kaniz Fatima Society and arrested Dr Abdullah Hashmi (28), suspected head of newly-emerged outfit ASP, which is involved in sabotage activities and attack on MQM-P leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan and law enforcement agencies personal in the Metropolis. The arrested suspect Abdullah Hashmi, is an IT (Information technology) expert and was employed in computer department of NED University. He has received Master's degree in Applied Physics from the University of Karachi. Sources added that the suspected terrorists used to communicate through a Smartphone app and also had recorded all terrorist activities carried out in the metropolis. According to Police, the newly-emerged ASP comprised of highly qualified 12-member group belongs to Karachi most of them are students of engineering universities and reside at Gulzar-e-Hijri area of the Metropolis.

In the wake of the September 2 attack on Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan, the Pakistan Rangers have planned an operation in Karachi, interior Sindh and Balochistan to dismantle the terrorist network involved in the incident. Pakistan Rangers Sindh Chief Major General Muhammad Saeed chaired a meeting at the Rangers Headquarters to discuss the present law and order situation in Karachi, as well as the recent attacks on Police Officials and Sindh Assembly opposition leader Hassan.

Three different groups involved in the killing of Policemen in Karachi have been busted by law enforcement agencies, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said at a Defence Day ceremony at Pakistan Air Force Masroor Base. "This success will help to eliminate organised terrorism and crime in the city," he said, praising the efforts of law enforcement agencies. "We have destroyed them [terrorist groups] to a considerable extent but there is still a lot of work to be done."

Seven TTP militants were arrested by LEAs and Police during joint operation in Al-Habib Society in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. The LEA and Police have also recovered cache of weapons including suicide jackets. Raids were being conducted for the arrest of one militant Qari Zahid who managed to escape from scene during operation.

Proscribed sectarian outfit ASWJ is among the religious parties holding protest demonstrations for the Rohingya Muslims. Leaders of the proscribed group held a rally in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. They had joined hands with other religious parties to hold demonstrations in Islamabad on September 8. Civil society activists criticised the government for, what they termed, a failure of the NAP, adding that proscribed groups should not be allowed to hold political activities. Activists have been warning that the Government's unwillingness to act against such groups might affect the progress of the ongoing military operations against terrorism.

Two Policemen were injured when an unidentified assailant opened fire on a Police mobile during a security check in Rizvia Society of Jahangirabad area in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Station House Officer Rizvia Arshad Janjua said an unidentified motorcycle borne assailants opened fired at a Police mobile during snap checking in Jahangirabad, injuring police constables Sirajuddin and Zeeshan Safdar. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack as yet.

The CTD said that two "high-profile militants" of the banned LeJ who earlier escaped from Karachi's Central Jail had crossed over to Afghanistan from the Chaman border in Balochistan. In a report submitted to the Sindh Home Ministry on the orders of CM Murad Ali Shah, the CTD said that the Police party tailing Shaikh Muhammad Mumtaz alias Firaun, and Muhammad Ahmed Khan alias Munna, failed to arrest the two men. The fugitives had broken out from Karachi's Central Jail on June 13 following a shocking lapse of security at the facility. The two had been arrested in 2013 by the CTD for their alleged involvement in the killing of over 60 people, mainly members of the Shia community and law enforcers. The report also said that the two militants' facilitators were in Police custody and were being interrogated at the moment. Discussing the prisoners' escape to Afghanistan, CM Murad Ali Shah later said that: "We are investigating how the escaped militants reached Afghanistan and the people who aided them in fleeing will be punished." "Those whose irresponsibility resulted in the escape of the prisoners [from Central Jail] were punished and sent to jail, but the courts set them free by granting them bail," he added while addressing the media during a visit to Sufi saint Abdullah Shah Ghazi's shrine.

At least five persons, including three SF personnel, were killed and eight others injured in a blast in the Rohri cement factory in Sukkur District of Sindh. Sukkur Police DIG Feroze Shah said that the explosion occurred when SF personnel were engaged in defusing explosives found at the cement factory. Five people including two Policemen, a Rangers official and two labourers were killed in the blast. Eight others, including six Rangers personnel, manager of the factory and one labourer were also injured.

The CTD claimed to have arrested up two suspected target killers allegedly belonging to LeJ during a raid in Bandhani Colony of Liaquatabad in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. In a press release, the CTD said the two target killers - Muhammad Abdullah Majid and Adnan Ahmad - were involved in sectarian murders and were planning to carry out more attacks during the upcoming month of Muharram. The CTD also recovered three 9mm pistols, 15 bullets and one motorbike from the suspects' custody.

Sindh Government has shifted some 90 "high-profile" inmates from the Central Prison Karachi to jails in other Districts of the province and Rawalpindi (Punjab) on advice of intelligence and law enforcement agencies, an official confirmed. The key report about illegal activities of the inmates inside the prison came from the CTD, which recommended their shifting from the central prison to other such facilities in Sindh and Punjab to "break an organised network". The move came after a series of meetings on the issue of jails' security, the official added. "The process began in July 2017," he said. "The high-profile militants belonging to banned outfits, both under trial as well as those serving their terms, were shifted from Karachi Central Prison to jails in other parts of the province. So far 90 have been moved and under the plan some 270 would face the same fate. More inmates would be transferred to other jails in phases." The move is meant to break an 'organised network' and improve prison security Of the 90 prisoners, he said, two had been moved to a prison in Rawalpindi, eight to Larkana and 80 to Sukkur jail.

Police claimed to have killed five militants in a raid in Sacha area of Malir Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Malir Town SSP, Rao Anwar said the raid was jointly carried out by intelligence agencies and Police on the basis of secret information. Anwar claimed that the militants had plans to carry out attacks on Youm-e-Ashura. He said a senior al Qaeda leader Amir Sharif was among the dead. He said a suspected identified as Hamza was involved in sectarian target killing.

Two senior Central Jail officials in Karachi were arrested over alleged obstruction of the investigation of a jailbreak involving two high-profile militants on June 14. The CTD arrested Central Jail Superintendent Ghulam Murtaza Shaikh and Assistant Superintendent Abdul Rehman Shaikh, CTD DIG Amir Farooqi said, over a range of charges from alleged destruction of evidence to threatening witnesses. DIG Farooqi, who was handling the jailbreak investigation, said the accused jailers were creating hindrances into the investigation of the two militants linked to the banned LeJ - Mumtaz alias Firaun, and Ahmed alias Munna, who were involved in the murders of 60 people, including members of the Shia community and law enforcement agencies.

Sindh Rangers claimed to have recovered arms from MQM-L unit office in Orangi Town of Karachi. According to Rangers spokesman, on an intelligent report that the activists of MQM-L has hidden arms and ammunition in the unit office in Orangi town's Sector-7- C for target killing and disturbing law & order situation in the city, the Rangers conducted a raid and recovered a Light Machine Gun (LMG), one AK-47 with 11 magazines, and a 22-rifle, two 30-bore pistols with a magazines and 1850 different types of rounds.

Eighteen of convicted and under-trial militants, including leaders of sectarian outfits, are likely to be transferred from Karachi Central jail to various other jails of Sindh. There were nearly 100 high-profile 'hardcore' terrorists incarcerated at the Karachi central prison belonging to militant organisations such as LeJ, SSP, JeM, TTP, al Qaeda, AQIS and Daesh (Islamic States). This includes the militants who attempted to assassinate former president and then army chief General (retd) Parvez Musharraf, Omar Shaikh, who was sentenced to death for killing American journalist Daniel Pearl, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British terrorist of Pakistani origin with links to various Islamist militant organisations such as JeM, al Qaeda, HuM and the Taliban, and LeJ co-founder Mohammad Ajmal alias Akram Lahori.

A US-based leader of the MQM's London faction allegedly financed the targeted killing of a party worker in Karachi three months ago, Pakistan Rangers Sindh claimed. Pakistan Rangers Sindh also announced the arrest of three suspected target killers, allegedly belonging to MQM, in connection with the chairman of union council-13, Rashid alias Mamu. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Pakistan Rangers Sindhs' spokesperson said that the Rangers carried out an intelligence-based action in Karachi's Shah Faisal Colony and arrested three suspects "involved in the targeted killing of UC chairman Rashid alias Mamu." The arrested suspects were identified as Asif Raees, Shahid Aziz and Mohammed Danish Khan.

One LeJ militant, Saad Surkhan, who was planning to carry out major acts of terrorism in the city, was gunned down in an encounter with a joint team of Police and IB in Khwaja Ajmer Nagri area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. However, his two accomplices managed to escape. Saad Surkhan had provided a suicide jacket to the assassin of Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada on August 16, 2015, a senior IB official said on condition of anonymity. The killed suspect was twice arrested in Karachi but was released on bail.

Eighteen of convicted and under-trial militants, including leaders of sectarian outfits, are likely to be transferred from Karachi Central jail to various other jails of Sindh. There were nearly 100 high-profile 'hardcore' terrorists incarcerated at the Karachi central prison belonging to militant organisations such as LeJ, SSP, JeM, TTP, al Qaeda, AQIS and Daesh (Islamic States). This includes the militants who attempted to assassinate former president and then army chief General (retd) Parvez Musharraf, Omar Shaikh, who was sentenced to death for killing American journalist Daniel Pearl, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British terrorist of Pakistani origin with links to various Islamist militant organisations such as JeM, al Qaeda, HuM and the Taliban, and LeJ co-founder Mohammad Ajmal alias Akram Lahori.

A US-based leader of the MQM's London faction allegedly financed the targeted killing of a party worker in Karachi three months ago, Pakistan Rangers Sindh claimed. Pakistan Rangers Sindh also announced the arrest of three suspected target killers, allegedly belonging to MQM, in connection with the chairman of union council-13, Rashid alias Mamu. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Pakistan Rangers Sindhs' spokesperson said that the Rangers carried out an intelligence-based action in Karachi's Shah Faisal Colony and arrested three suspects "involved in the targeted killing of UC chairman Rashid alias Mamu." The arrested suspects were identified as Asif Raees, Shahid Aziz and Mohammed Danish Khan.

One LeJ militant, Saad Surkhan, who was planning to carry out major acts of terrorism in the city, was gunned down in an encounter with a joint team of Police and IB in Khwaja Ajmer Nagri area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. However, his two accomplices managed to escape. Saad Surkhan had provided a suicide jacket to the assassin of Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada on August 16, 2015, a senior IB official said on condition of anonymity. The killed suspect was twice arrested in Karachi but was released on bail.

A 'commander' of Lyari gangster, Ghafoor alias Chhotu, allegedly involved in targeted killing of, among others, three foreigners in the Hub area of Balochistan was shot dead by Pakistan Rangers Sindh during an encounter in Murad Memon Goth of Malir town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Acting on information, the Rangers encircled the hideout in Murad Memon Goth at around 2am. On seeing the Rangers' personnel, the suspects resorted to firing with automatic weapons. Reinforcements were called in by the Rangers and during an intense exchange of fire, one suspect was gunned down while trying to escape in Bachal Goth near Murad Memon Goth. His two accomplices fled taking advantage of darkness, said the Rangers' official. The dead suspect was identified as Ghafoor alias Chhotu. "He was a close aide of Lyari gang leader Noor Mohammed alias Baba Ladla," said the Rangers' spokesperson, adding that the dead suspect had established a reign of terror in the Malir area.

ASP 'chief', Shehryar alias Dr Abdullah Hashmi, among eight militants were killed in a raid jointly carried out by the Pakistan Rangers Sindh and the CTD in Raees Goth area of Baldia Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh at 11:00 pm. A spokesman for the Rangers said Dr Abdullah Hashmi, Ameer of ASP was mastermind behind several terrorist attacks. Another suspect identified as Arsalan Baig was member of group's "Target Killing Team", he said. A Rangers official said that one CTD personnel and two Rangers personnel sustained injuries during the encounter. Explosive material, arms and ammunition were recovered from the militant hideout.

Unidentified assailants shot dead a leader of the MQM-P on Hali Road of Hyderabad city of same District in Sindh. Dr Noshad, a sector member of the MQM-P, was targeted by unidentified assailants when he was returning home after dropping off his children to a school. Noshad received several bullets and was shifted to a hospital where succumbed to his wounds.

Karachi Police arrested three IS militants from Ahsanabad area in the outskirts of the Karachi metropolis. Officials recovered two 30-bore pistols, one 9mm pistol along with propaganda literature from the possession of the arrested militants. SSP Malir Rao Anwar, stated that Police conducted a raid at a house after receiving a tip from an intelligence agency. He also claimed that the suspects were planning to recruit young people for their militant group.

Five bombs were defused near the entrance of MUET in Jamshoro District, by the BDS. The bombs were locally made, weighing around 25 kilograms and had been developed in such a way, that a remote-controlled device could be fitted. The bombs contained ball bearing, nuts and bolts, and five pencil cells along with an orange fuse was recovered.

Rangers arrested four suspected LeJ militants during segregated raids in Mominabad area of Orangi Town neighborhood in Karachi. They were allegedly involved in several cases of terrorism, including attacks on polio teams.

Also, a cadre of the MQM-H was arrested along with arms and ammunition during a raid conducted on a tip-off in the Landhi area in Karachi. The suspect was identified as Shahid alias Gada. An unnamed spokesperson of the Rangers said that Gada was involved in various cases of crime, including murder.

Rangers foiled a suicide attack on the occasion of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain at a security check point near Bab-e-Karbala Imambargah, in Rohri of Sukkar District in Sindh, by killing three militants including two would-be suicide bombers. According to Sindh Rangers Spokesperson they had prior intelligence about possible militant activity in Karachi as well as rural Sindh on the occasion of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain.

Meanwhile, the Police arrested a militant of banned outfit and recovered hand grenades from his possession in Phuleli near Islamabad Railway crossing in Hyderabad District, Sindh. The militant identified as, Siddique Soomro was allegedly planning to attack the railways installations. Two hand grenades recovered from his custody were later defused.

Sindh CM Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a meeting of the PAC in which it was decided to forward 28 high profile terrorism-related cases to the Military Courts. The committee was told that the ATCs in the province have so far convicted 1,521 criminals, 94 of which awarded death penalty, while 562 convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment. CM directed Police and Rangers to initiate, a targeted operation against outfits involved in criminal activities.

The CTD Police and Sindh Rangers, in a joint operation, arrested a militant from Mai Ghari area of Manghopir on the outskirts of Karachi, suspected to be involved in Lal Shahbaz Qalandar explosion, which killed 80 civilians and injured over 300. CTD DIG Amir Farooqui stated that weapons and explosives were seized from the custody of suspect Nadir Ali alias Murshid Jakhrani.

An ATC in Karachi, Sindh indicted MQM Leader Amir Khan and Minhaj Qazi in a case for harbouring militants at Nine Zero, who denied the charges. The Court has declared other accused in the case as 'absconders' and summoned witnesses of the case on next hearing on December 4.

Karachi Police arrested three IS militants from Ahsanabad area in the outskirts of the Karachi metropolis. Officials recovered two 30-bore pistols, one 9mm pistol along with propaganda literature from the possession of the arrested militants. SSP Malir Rao Anwar, stated that Police conducted a raid at a house after receiving a tip from an intelligence agency. He also claimed that the suspects were planning to recruit young people for their militant group.

Five bombs were defused near the entrance of MUET in Jamshoro District, by the BDS. The bombs were locally made, weighing around 25 kilograms and had been developed in such a way, that a remote-controlled device could be fitted. The bombs contained ball bearing, nuts and bolts, and five pencil cells along with an orange fuse was recovered.

Rangers arrested four suspected LeJ militants during segregated raids in Mominabad area of Orangi Town neighborhood in Karachi. They were allegedly involved in several cases of terrorism, including attacks on polio teams.

Also, a cadre of the MQM-H was arrested along with arms and ammunition during a raid conducted on a tip-off in the Landhi area in Karachi. The suspect was identified as Shahid alias Gada. An unnamed spokesperson of the Rangers said that Gada was involved in various cases of crime, including murder.

Rangers foiled a suicide attack on the occasion of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain at a security check point near Bab-e-Karbala Imambargah, in Rohri of Sukkar District in Sindh, by killing three militants including two would-be suicide bombers. According to Sindh Rangers Spokesperson they had prior intelligence about possible militant activity in Karachi as well as rural Sindh on the occasion of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain.

Meanwhile, the Police arrested a militant of banned outfit and recovered hand grenades from his possession in Phuleli near Islamabad Railway crossing in Hyderabad District, Sindh. The militant identified as, Siddique Soomro was allegedly planning to attack the railways installations. Two hand grenades recovered from his custody were later defused.

Sindh CM Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a meeting of the PAC in which it was decided to forward 28 high profile terrorism-related cases to the Military Courts. The committee was told that the ATCs in the province have so far convicted 1,521 criminals, 94 of which awarded death penalty, while 562 convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment. CM directed Police and Rangers to initiate, a targeted operation against outfits involved in criminal activities.

The CTD Police and Sindh Rangers, in a joint operation, arrested a militant from Mai Ghari area of Manghopir on the outskirts of Karachi, suspected to be involved in Lal Shehbaz Qalander explosion, which killed 80 civilians and injured over 300. CTD DIG Amir Farooqui stated that weapons and explosives were seized from the custody of suspect Nadir Ali alias Murshid Jakhrani.

An ATC in Karachi, Sindh indicted MQM Leader Amir Khan and Minhaj Qazi in a case for harbouring militants at Nine Zero, who denied the charges. The Court has declared other accused in the case as 'absconders' and summoned witnesses of the case on next hearing on December 4.

Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar Shrine blast accused Nadir Jhakrani linked to IS group, confessed his crime before the Judicial Magistrate in Karachi, in Sindh on. ATC Hyderabad remanded the accused in Judicial Custody for 15 days, while CTD Police has initiated the process for recommending his trial to a Military Court. In his statement, the suspect confessed that the explosion was planned in Balochistan by Ghulam Mustufa alias 'Doctor'.

At least three people were killed and eight others were injured, as armed clash erupted between two Sunni groups at Ammer Shah Chowk Jani Burira near Hussainabad tehsil Kotdiji in Khairpur District. Rally was brought out by religious organization Labaik Ya Rasool Allah, when it was fired upon by unknown gunmen at the Chowk. Victim community called a jirga of Buriro community to decide the further strategy.

Various religious and political groups including Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM), Difa-i-Pakistan Council, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Pakistan People's Party (PPP) held protests against US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in Karachi. The main protest was held near the US Consulate in Karachi and the activists burnt flags of the US and Israel and engaged in sloganeering.

An MQM-Pakistan member Ammad Wasim was killed by unidentified assailants when he was on his way to Samnabad Locality from Matric Board Office, within the limits of Nazimabad Police station in Karachi. Police termed the incident target killing but declined to verify the political affiliation of the deceased.

SFs arrested three suspected illegal arms traders and recovered a cache of ammunition during a raid in Rizvia Society in Karachi. According to a statement by an unnamed Rangers spokesperson the recovery included a G3 rifle, four sub-machine guns (SMGs), two 7mm rifles, M4 rifles, one .22 rifle, one .22 pistol, six 9mm pistols, five 12 bore rifles, four 30 bore pistols, a 32 bore pistol, a 38 bore pistol and 2,159 rounds of different weapon.

DGMO Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza briefed the Senators on the progress of Operation Radd-ul-Fassad. He confirmed that under the Radd-ul-Fassad, at least 18,001 IBOs were conducted across Pakistan (periods not sepcifeid). Giving further details he said that 1,249 IBOs had been conducted in KP and the FATA, including 31 major operations; 13,011 operations had been conducted in Punjab, including seven major operations; 1,410 operations, including 29 major operations, were undertaken in Balochistan; 2015 operations, including seven major operations, were conducted in Sindh. No break up was provided for rest 242 IBOs. There were another 4,983 search-based combing operations (across Pakistan). At least 19,993 weapons were also recovered during these operations. Further, briefing on Karachi, he said that since the launch of the Rangers operation in Karachi in 2013, at least 8,780 suspects had been transferred to the Police; 12,105 weapons were seized and 1,948 militants were arrested; 154 abductees had been freed from captivity and 154 kidnappers were arrested; and 24 soldiers had been killed (period for the data not specified).

PAF inaugurated a new operational air base PAF Base Bholari in the Bholari area of Thatta District. The establishment of the airbase would play an important role in safeguarding the CPEC project, said CoASACM Sohail Aman.

Five LeJ militants were arrested in SITE Superhighway Industrial Area of Karachi. The militants were planning to assassinate an important personality belonging to the Shia community.

Five suspected IS militants were killed in an encounter with the Police in Gharibabad area near Ayub Goth in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Police acting on prior intelligence received from an IA conducted a targeted raid at the hideout in which the five militants were killed. One militant, identified as Qari Habibullah alias Abdul Salam Burmi, was previously associated with al Qaeda and involved in the targeted killing of Policemen, Army personnel, and members of Shia and Christian communities.