Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Sindh, in a joint operation with a federal civilian intelligence agency, arrested a suspected suicide bomber linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Karachi on Sunday. The suspect, identified as Salman alias Abu Hurairah, was apprehended following an armed encounter in the southern port city.
Details of the Arrest
The CTD Sindh stated that Salman was a key member of a trained covert sleeper cell known as the Maulvi Mukhlis Group. During the operation, authorities recovered a suicide vest, along with photographs and maps of sensitive locations from his possession. Salman is believed to be a close associate of Zafran, alias Abu Hurairah, a highly wanted militant accused of orchestrating an attack on Chinese nationals at Liberty Textile Mills in 2024.
According to the CTD, Salman was part of a group of suicide bombers sent to Karachi following Zafran's killing in a police operation. He had undergone commando-style training for suicide attacks in Afghanistan and traveled to Karachi with his associate, Idrees, alias Asadullah, to carry out targeted killings and suicide bombings with other militants.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Raids
Two cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act and Explosives Substances Act 1998 have been registered against the suspect, who is currently under interrogation. The CTD statement added that joint teams are conducting raids to apprehend the suspect's associates and facilitators.
Rise in Militant Violence
The arrest comes amid a surge in militant violence in Pakistan, particularly in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwestern Balochistan provinces bordering Afghanistan. Earlier this month, the CTD Punjab reported that five suspected militants were killed in an intelligence-based operation in Punjab province. Islamabad attributes the rise in violence to armed groups operating from neighboring Afghanistan, a charge Kabul denies.
