Sindh Interior Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar announced on Monday the arrest of the main planner behind a recent suicide attack targeting Chinese engineers near Karachi airport.
In a press briefing with Inspector General Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon, Lanjar confirmed the capture of a woman who assisted in organizing the assault. The suicide bombing, which occurred at the airport’s signal, resulted in the deaths of two Chinese nationals and a Pakistani citizen.
The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, highlighting the ongoing security risks to foreign nationals and critical infrastructure.
“Our security forces quickly initiated an investigation, concentrating on the vehicle and its origin,” Lanjar said. “Using CCTV footage, we identified the suicide bomber and two facilitators, which eventually led to the arrest of the female accomplice.”
Lanjar disclosed that the vehicle used in the bombing, loaded with around 30-40 kilograms of explosives, was transported from Karachi after being brought in from Hub on October 4, 2024. Authorities traced the vehicle’s purchase to a Karachi showroom, where it was bought for Rs 7.1 million through a bank transfer.
The suicide bomber was identified as Shah Fahad, also known as Aftab, and investigators linked a rickshaw to the case, identifying its driver, Farhan, and an associate named Muhammad Sharif as participants in the operation.
Lanjar praised the investigative work, announcing a Rs 5 crore reward for the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) team and recommending Quaid-e-Azam and Pakistan Police Medals for the leading officers.
The minister expressed concern over the use of women in facilitating terrorist activities, denouncing it as an abuse of cultural norms that traditionally honor and protect women. “These groups are misusing women for abhorrent purposes, which goes against our cultural values,” he said.
