Suspected killer linked to banned group arrested in Karachi joint operation. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The Sindh Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), in a joint operation with a federal intelligence agency, arrested a suspected killer linked to banned group Zainabiyoun Brigade on Friday near University Road, Karachi.
According to a statement issued by the CTD, “During the operation, the team arrested the target killer Muhammad Farhan Khan, son of Muhammad Ismail, and recovered a 9mm pistol along with a loaded magazine containing eight bullets. The pistol was used in the targeted killing of 2023. He has been involved in multiple sectarian and religious terrorist activities in the past.”
The statement further revealed that during interrogation, the arrested suspect confessed to having “killed an Imam of Masjid Abu Bakr on the 12th of Rabiul-Awwal in Federal Area B, Block 20, Karachi, along with an accomplice.”
“The attack was carried out on instructions from the organization to promote sectarian terrorism in the city. An innocent child was also injured by gunfire during the incident,” the statement read.
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According to the CTD, a case of illegal possession of weapons had been registered at the Karachi CTD Police Station. Crime no. 32/2026 was filed under Section 23(1) of the Sindh Arms Act, 2013.
“The murder case of Qaiser Farooq (Imam Masjid Abu Bakr) has already been registered at Samanabad Police Station under FIR No. 297/2023 under sections 302, 324 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code,” the statement added.
The CTD further stated that interrogation of the suspect was underway and further revelations were expected. Joint teams of the CTD and the civil intelligence agency had been formed to arrest his accomplices and other killers, and raids were being carried out.
