KARACHI - Karachi-based commander of Al-Qaeda along with his comrade were killed, in an exchange of fire, along with an intelligence agency official in Gulshan-e-Iqbal locality on Tuesday.
Extra contingent of Rangers along with the intelligence officials and police reached Fahad Garden located in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area and cordoned off the surroundings.
Police officials said the militants resorted to indiscriminate fire at the law enforcers when the personnel were taking positions closed to their hideout. Exchange of fire has been continued for more than two hours.
Ranger spokesperson said it was the intelligence-driven raid in which two militants were killed whereas the assistant director of a law enforcement agency also embraced martyrdom. One Rangers soldier was also wounded in the encounter.
The militants killed were later identified as Abdul Ahad, son of Kamal Shah, and M Saleh, son of Abdul Aziz. The secret agency official was identified as Sajjad. Sources in the law enforcers said Ahad was the Karachi-based commander of Al-Qaeda while Saleh had arrived to visit him. The law enforcers also recovered laptop, Jihadi literature and arms from their hideout. A motorcycle which was being used by the militants was also impounded. The militants were planning to carry out a major terror activity in the city.
Sources said a woman was also taken into custody from the flat and was shifted to undisclosed location for further questioning, however, the officials concerned did not confirm his arrest.
Residents of the area when contacted said the militants, resident of the third floor of the apartment, purchased the flat a couple of months ago from the owner namely Anwar. They usually put on the helmets whenever they came outside the house. It is worth mentioning here that it was first encounter in which the security official died along with the militants. Although there are more than 1500 terrorists and criminals have been killed in the city in encounters during the Karachi targeted operation that began on September 5, 2013.
In another encounter took place in Shah Latif locality of Landhi, two security personnel were killed during the raid but terrorists managed to escape during the exchange of fire.
DEATH WARRANT FOR
MURDER CONVICT
Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday issued death warrant for suspect in policeman’s family murder case.
Felon Shahid was convicted in murders of cop’s wife and daughter over resisting robbery bid in Napier area in 1998. It is pertinent to mention here the court had already executed suspect Khan Muhammad in the same case.