On Monday, Sindh’s Interior Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar announced the arrest of the mastermind behind the recent suicide attack targeting Chinese engineers near Karachi airport.
The bombing, which occurred at the airport signal, resulted in the deaths of two Chinese nationals and a Pakistani citizen. The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, marking another incident of escalating security threats aimed at foreign nationals and key infrastructure.
In a press conference with Inspector General Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon, Lanjar also confirmed the capture of a female facilitator involved in planning the attack. “The security forces launched a swift investigation, focusing on the vehicle involved and its origins,” said Lanjar. “Using CCTV footage, we identified the suicide bomber and two facilitators, leading to the arrest of the female accomplice.”
The minister revealed that the vehicle, packed with an estimated 30 to 40 kilograms of explosives, was brought from Karachi and transported from Hub on October 4, 2024. Authorities traced the purchase to a Karachi showroom, where the vehicle was bought for Rs 7.1 million via bank transfer.
The suicide bomber was identified as Shah Fahad, also known as Aftab. Further investigation linked a rickshaw to the incident, with the driver, Farhan, and his associate Muhammad Sharif also identified as involved.
Lanjar praised the investigative efforts and announced a reward of Rs 5 crore for the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) team. He also recommended Quaid-e-Azam and Pakistan Police Medals for the officers involved.
The minister expressed concern over the involvement of women in terror activities, condemning the exploitation of cultural values that traditionally offer women respect and protection. “These groups are misusing women for nefarious purposes, which goes against our cultural norms,” he stated.
