Three security personnel martyred, three terrorists neutralised in Karachi police head office attack
Pakistan
Three terrorists neutralized as LEAs clear Karachi police head office building
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Law-enforcement agencies claimed to have killed three terrorists before clearing the Karachi police head office located on main Sharea Faisal, which came under attack on Friday night.
Security forces retook the building after several hours and killed three militants, a government spokesman said. Police commandoes and a bomb disposal squad entered the building and a security sweep was under way.
Four people — including two police officers, one Rangers personnel and one civilian staffer — were martyred, and 18 people were wounded.
A bomb explosion was also heard which resulted in a fire. On the other hand, the Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) said the police were encountering the terrorists, present at the fourth floor of the building, which resulted in the death of two terrorists. However, there are still more terrorists inside the building.
Police snipers took up positions near the building and all lights in the area were switched off.
Sources said the firing near the police head office sent shockwaves across the city, with fear spreading among the residents of the area. They said the attackers threw grenades from behind the police station at a time when security personnel were still present in the office.
Meanwhile, the investigations started to find out the number of attackers and the motive behind the attack.
A spokesperson for the Sindh Rangers said initial estimates suggest there are eight to ten “armed terrorists”. In a separate statement, the spokesperson said a brigadier of the counter-terrorism force is leading the operation, adding that Rangers were working on clearing the fourth floor.
Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister took notice of the attack and said he was overseeing the investigations himself and said the attack on the police chief's office was "unacceptable". He also ordered the regional DIGs to arrive at the police head office with police forces.
“I want the perpetrators behind the attack on the additional IG's office arrested,” he said, adding that an attack on the KPO was “not acceptable” at any cost.
The chief minister also sought a report from the officers concerned and said he was personally monitoring the situation.
Three floors of the five-storey building had been cleared so far, said Sindh CM, adding two floors and the rooftop remained to be cleared. He said it was too early to confirm casualties as reports were still coming in.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the terrorists would have to pay for their bloody attack at the police station and added that the Sindh CM had taken notice of the attack.
Rana Sanaullah
Following the attack,Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said he had a telephonic conversation with the Sindh IGP and the chief secretary. He added the terrorists were facing resistance on the third floor of the buildng. The minister emphasised that a new strategy was needed for fighting the scourge of terrorism.
The minister said the federal government was in touch with the Sindh police and "all assistance will be provided."
Murtaza Wahab
Sindh Chief Minister’s Advisor for Law Murtaza Wahab while talking to Dunya termed the incident as regrettable and said that the operation to eliminate terrorists is underway.
He said that it is difficult to give details of the attack at this moment but the police personnel and officers present at the spot were fighting courageously to clear the building.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, in his tweet, condemned the terrorist attack on Karachi police. He said the Sindh police had bravely faced and crushed terrorism before. “We have full faith they will do so again, such cowardly attacks will not deter us,” he added.
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) February 17, 2023
PM Shehbaz Sharif
Taking strict notice of the terrorist attack on Karachi Police Office, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif sought a report of the incident from the chief minister. He also appreciated the police and security forces for their strong action against the terrorists.
The prime minister directed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan to provide full support from the federal government in the operation clean-up against terrorists. He said that in order to eradicate the menace of terrorism, the entire state power and cooperation must be used. He said the resolve and determination of the police and law enforcement agencies cannot be broken by such cowardly acts.
President Arif Alvi
In a statement, President Dr Arif Alvi strongly condemned the terror attack on the police office in Karachi and prayed for the early recovery of the injured.
He said the whole nation stood with the security forces in the fight against terrorism.
Efforts would continue till the complete elimination of the menace of terrorism, he added.
