KARACHI: Rangers personnel conducted an operation in Sultanabad area of Manghopir in Karachi on Thursday, allegedly killing a key commander and the local vice-emir of the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), DawnNews reported.

Rangers personnel had cordoned off the area sealing all entry and exit points of the locality while conducting the search operation.

Although the official Rangers spokesperson declined to give confirmation of the identities of those killed during the operation, security sources said that the vice-emir of the TTP's Karachi chapter identified as Abid 'chotu' was killed during the Rangers' operation in Sultanabad area of Karachi's Manghopir area.

The other TTP commander killed during the operation was identified as Fakhruddin Mehsud, according to the sources.

Prior to the operation two Rangers personnel were wounded in a hand-grenade attack in the locality. They were later shifted to a hospital for medical treatment.

Following the attack, the operation was conducted with the assistance of air support.

Meanwhile, Director General of Sindh Rangers Maj-Gen Rizwan Akhtar also reached the spot to supervise the operation.

Security personnel also recovered an explosive-laden motorcycle which was taken into custody by the Bomb Disposal Squad.

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Manghopir is one of the areas in Karachi considered as a hotbed of TTP activity. Other areas in the city include Sultanabad, Pakhtunabad, Kunwari Colony and Pirabad.

The operation took place amid the operation launched in Karachi over the Supreme Court of Pakistan's directives to improve the law and order situation in the city and the Zarb-i-Azb operation launched by the Pakistan Army in North Waziristan tribal region following a Taliban attack on Karachi airport, earlier this month.

Mean while, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that worsening of law and order situation in Karachi could not be borne by the city and the Army would be deployed in Karachi wherever it was felt necessary.

Karachi airport attack: police say suspects arrested

Meanwhile, Karachi police claimed to have arrested suspects involved in the Karachi airport attack.

According to Deputy inspector general (DIG) Karachi East Munir Ahmed Shaikh, the suspects were traced through mobile phones found at the airport after the attack.

Shaikh said the suspects were currently being interrogated, and that he was "expecting good news".

—Sohail Shabbir contributed to reporting