• CTD says suspects killed in Manghopir encounter belonged to outlawed TTP
• Claims recovery of hit list, arms and explosives
• Official identifies one of the slain militants as ‘would-be suicide bomber
• Man who shot two Chinese nationals in November still at large

KARACHI: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Monday claimed to have killed three suspected militants belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a shootout in the Manghopir area and recovered arms, explosives, suicide vest and a list of targets.

The CTD said that one of the killed suspects had masterminded the November 2024 attack on two Chinese engineers in a Karachi textile mill.

Giving details of the operation, CTD chief Additional Inspector General Azad Khan told Dawn that an intelligence-based operation was carried out by the CTD in collaboration with an intelligence outfit in the Manghopir.

“The operation targeted a hideout of the proscribed Fitna-al-Khawarij [TTP]. Upon reaching the location and attempting to breach the premises, the raiding team was met with armed resistance. In a heavy exchange of gunfire, three terrorists were neutralised,” he said.

The deceased were identified as Zafran, 24, Qudratullah, 25, and Matiullah, 29.

The bodies were shifted to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi for medico-legal formalities.

Police surgeon Summaiya Syed told Dawn that suspect Zafran and Matiullah sustained three bullet wounds each in the chest, while Qudratullah sustained five bullet wounds in the chest and abdomen.

Officials said that no personnel of police or the intelligence agency suffered any injury in the “heavy exchange of gunfire”.

‘Rs20m bounty’

The CTD chief said that the government had announced a reward of Rs20 million on the arrest of suspect Zafran as he was involved in the high-profile attack on Chinese nationals in SITE.

He said that suspect Zafran had masterminded the attack. He did not directly take part in the shooting as a private security guard, identified as Sharifullah, targeted the two Chinese engineers working at the Karachi textile mills on Nov 5, 2024.

The officials said that suspect Sharifullah is still at large.

Hit list recovered

The CTD claimed to have recovered two grenades, as many suicide jackets and arms and ammunition. It also said that the sleuths also found a diary detailing a list of their potential targets.

“The diary contains the militants’ attack plans and reconnaissance notes,” the CTD chief said, adding that one of the killed terrorists was trained for carrying out suicide bombing.

He said intelligence operatives were examining the seized materials, which might yield further actionable leads.

“This successful operation is a significant blow to the operational capability of Fitna-al-Khawarij in urban Sindh,” he observed.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2025