• Two attackers identified
• Militants entered from residential quarters

KARACHI: Police on Saturday launched an investigation into Friday evening’s devastating att­ack on the Karachi Police Office (KPO), as law enforcers tried to connect the dots behind the incident claimed by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Two of the attackers have been identified, while the last rites of the martyred officers and a civilian were also performed. Separately, Chief of Army Staff Gen Syed Asim Munir visited the injured along with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.

Three militants, who wore suicide jackets, were killed and three law enforcers and one civilian were martyred while 18 others, mostly police and Rangers’ personnel, were injured during the hours-long joint operation carried out by the police, Rangers and army personnel.

The IGP established a committee to inquire into the incident and supervise the investigation of the case, according to the police spokesperson.

The body would be led by CTD DIG Zulfiqar Ali Larik whose members included South DIG Irfan Ali Baloch, CIA DIG Mohammad Karim Khan, CTD SSP Operations Tariq Nawaz and CTD’s in-charge investigation DSP Raja Umar Khattab.

All three killed militants wore suicide jackets; one exploded while two were defused by Bomb Disposal Squad officials.

BDS Inspector Abid Farooq, who was part of a team of bomb experts probing the attack, told Dawn that one of the attackers blew himself up while two others were shot dead. But they were also wearing suicide jackets, each weighing around 7-8kg. The official said that both suicide jackets were defused. Five Russian hand grenades were defused while three shells of exploded/used grenades were also seized from the spot. Besides, sub-machine guns and ammunition were also seized.

Bomb experts thoroughly searched all floors of the KPO building including the roof and parking areas and recovered two suicide jackets from the terrorists’ bodies in ’alive condition with complete system, commercial explosives, ball bearings, striker and de-cord in a proper pouch, having weight approximately six to seven kilograms of each including all accessories, according to the BDS report reviewed by Dawn on Saturday. Both jackets were defused on the spot.

Five ‘mis-fired’ hand grenades RGD-1 recovered from the terrorists’ bodies and different places were also defused. Three used stun (flash) grenades also recovered from the fourth floor and roof of the KPO.

At the Corps Headquarters, meanwhile, COAS Asim Munir and CM Shah were briefed about the findings of the incident before they visited the KPO.

‘Thin security’

South-DIG Irfan Ali Baloch talking to the media outside the KPO said that the attackers had done proper reconnaissance as they entered the facility from adjoining residential quarters of policemen, where generally ordinary people did not go. Besides, the militants attacked the city police chief office when there was “thin security” as policemen had gone to offer Maghrib prayers.

Mr Baloch said the policemen performed security in three shifts and security was even provided to the mosque located inside the KPO.

The DIG said the car in which the killed militants travelled had two number plates as one plate was found from inside the vehicle.

CTD official Raja Umar Khattab said two killed militants have been identified as Kifayatullah, around 22 years, resident of Lakki Marwat, and Zala Noor, around 20, hailing from North Waziristan. Efforts were underway to identify the third militant. Geo News quoted Kifayatullah’s family as saying he had fled to Afghanistan five months ago.

To a question, Mr Khattab observed that there would definitely be ‘facilitators’ of the militants in the city as this attack would not be possible without them.

‘Security lapse’

Javed, a brother of martyred constable Mohammed Saeed, talking to the media outside the Chhipa morgue near the KPO where he had gone to receive the coffin, said that the incident appeared to be the result of a “security lapse” as the attackers entered the facility easily.

He said after hearing news about martyrdom of his brother on TV, he came to the KPO on a motorbike and “easily” entered it by wearing helmet and no one asked him.

The grief-stricken brother said after hearing the news of the attack, he phoned his brother who was alive at that time and responded to his call. He said Saeed was the father of two sons, four and 11. He said today was the birthday of one of his sons and he had promised to bring cake to celebrate it. The tragedy for the family was compounded as Javed recalled that their brother Shamim had fallen victim to targeted killing in the metropolis around 20 years, whose killers had not been arrested so far.

Shabana Masih, sister-in-law of martyred Ajmal Masih, a sanitary worker at the KPO, told media that he (Ajmal) originally hailed from Faisalabad. He was the father of four children, including three sons.

The relatives of martyred constable Ghulam Abbas Leghari said that the victim was a former soldier who joined the police in 2011. He originally hailed from Larkana and was father of four children.

Rangers spokesperson said that martyred sub-inspector Taimur Shahzad, originally from Multan, had joined the force seven years ago.

Funeral prayers

Funeral prayers of martyred Rangers sub-inspector Taimur Shahzad was held at the headquarters of the paramilitary force at Jinnah Courts building, which was attended by Sindh chief minister, corps commander, IGP and other senior officials. Later on, his coffin was taken to his native area Shujaabad, Multan with military honours for burial.

Separately, funeral prayers of two martyred police constables, Ghulam Abbas Leghari and Mohammed Saeed, and sanitary worker-cum-employee of the KPO Ajmal Masih were held at CPO (Central Police Office), which was attended by the CM, Corps Commander Karachi, chief secretary, IGP and other officials.

Their coffins were sent to Larkana, Korangi and Faisalabad respectively for burial.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2023