KARACHI: A Pakistan Rangers Sindh spokesperson on Monday said that out of seven suspects killed in an ‘encounter’ in Shah Latif Town late on Sunday night, five of them were identified as militants linked with the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LJ).

They were identified with the help of existing criminal record, which law-enforcement agencies possessed. The suspects were involved in several acts of terrorism in the city.

Profiles

Umer Hayat alias Qari was involved in terrorist acts while he also worked as a facilitator and financier of militancy. In 2010, the deceased militant was involved in attacks on Muharram processions in which 20 people lost their lives.

“He was also involved in the deadly attack on Jinnah International Airport in 2014,” the spokesperson said. The militant was said to be involved in the attack on Mehran Base in 2011. He used to carry out terrorist acts along with LJ’s Asif Chotoo.

Another killed militant, Amir Ali Chaudhry, was also involved in the attack on Jinnah International Airport and was said to be an expert in preparing explosive material. He was involved in the planning of a jailbreak in Karachi. “He was also an expert in anti-drone technology,” said the Rangers’ statement.

The third militant, Ijtiba Ahmed Feroz alias Salman, was involved in planning of sectarian targeted killings and terrorism.

Mohammed Shakeel alias Burmi had remained involved in killings based on sectarian and ethnic grounds and targeted killings of political workers. He received training in militancy from Miranshah in 2013.

Aqib Yusuf was involved in attacks on Pakistan Army and also worked as a facilitator of terrorism.

The paramilitary force spokesperson said that the encounter with the terrorists in the outskirts of Karachi continued for 40 minutes, in which the suspects used modern weapons. During the exchange of fire, one Rangers’ trooper was also injured.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2017