KARACHI: Three suspected militants were shot dead on Friday evening in a what police described as an encounter in Sohrab Goth that led to the recovery of a suicide jacket, an explosives-laden motorbike and a huge cache of arms and ammunition.

The officials claimed that the police had received information that the suspects were involved in planning a suicide attack on the Ashura procession on M.A. Jinnah Road.

This was the second deadly encounter this week in which Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan suspects were killed, as nine suspected militants had been gunned down in an exchange of fire with police in a Malir locality, off the National Highway, earlier on Sunday.

This time a police party raided a hideout in Quetta Town, Sohrab Goth, on a tip-off about the presence of between 10 and 12 militants there, Malir SSP Rao Anwar said.

However, he added, the policemen came under attack and in the ensuing exchange of fire the three suspects were killed.

Sohrab Goth SHO Ismail Lashari identified one of the deceased as Ali Sher, who was prepared to carry out the suicide bombing on Nov 4.

He said the police seized a suicide jacket, 42kg explosive substance fitted to a motorcycle, weapons and ammunition from the hideout.

However, the officer said, the suspected TTP commander in Quetta Town Sultan along with his accomplices managed to escape.

Karsaz blasts suspects held

Police claimed to have arrested two suspects associated with a TTP group said to be involved in the Karsaz blasts and suicide attack on President Asif Ali Zardari’s security chief Bilal Sheikh in Karachi.

Speaking at a press conference, CID SSP Usman Bajwa said that the police acting on a tip-off arrested Jamshed Khan and Abid alias Abdullah, allegedly belonging to the TTP Sher Bahadur group, in Shah Latif Town.

The TTP Sher Bahadur group was allegedly involved in the Karsaz bomb blasts and assassination of the former president’s security chief. He said Khan had been asked by the group to carry out the bombings but he had refused.

Separately, the CID police arrested a suspect, Junaid Zaidi, who was allegedly involved in 30 targeted killings in the metropolis.

‘Robber’ killed

A suspected robber was shot dead while his accomplice was arrested after an encounter in the Safoora Goth area, police said.

They added that three armed men had stormed Bismillah Bakery on University Road near Safoora Goth when the police reached there and an exchange of fire ensued.

The police said one suspect, identified as Allah Ditta, was gunned down while his accomplice, Bilal, was arrested. Their third accomplice fled during the exchange of fire, the officials said.

Policeman kills father-in-law

A 56-year-old man was shot dead allegedly by his son-in-law, a policeman, over some domestic dispute in Sohrab Goth on Friday, police said.

They added that Rahim Bux visited his father-in-law Nazir Sharif’s residence in Ayub Goth and killed him after arguments over some family issue. The suspect managed to escape along with the weapon.

Man shot dead in Lyari

A 37-year-old man was shot dead in the Kalakot area on Friday, police said.

They added Khalid Rasul, cousin of alleged gangster Rauf alias Nazim, was attacked and killed near Jadgal Chowk.

The police suspected that the killing might have been carried out by a rival gang member.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2014