KARACHI: The counterterrorism department (CTD) of Sindh said on Wednesday that it killed a Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist involved in a major 2013 bombing and last year’s attack on police headquarters in Karachi.
Umar Farooq, identified as a TTP commander, was implicated in the devastating March 2013 car bomb attack on a Shia mosque in Abbas Town, which resulted in 48 deaths and over 180 injuries. Almost a decade later, Karachi experienced another major incident in February 2023, when militants attacked the city’s police headquarters, killing four people, including two officers. The TTP claimed responsibility for the assault.
Following the 2023 attack, authorities announced the killing of two militants, naming one, Aryad Ullah, as the alleged mastermind.
In a statement released today, the CTD reported acting on a tip-off and apprehending Farooq near Hanifia Masjid on the northern bypass of the city. According to the statement, Farooq opened fire on the police in an attempt to evade arrest. During the ensuing gunfight, Farooq was wounded and fell.
The CTD revealed that Farooq shot a policeman in the chest, but the officer survived thanks to his flak jacket. The statement further noted that an anti-terrorism court had declared Farooq a fugitive for his involvement in the police headquarters attack. A recent threat alert issued by the Sindh home office indicated that TTP leadership had sent Farooq to Karachi to conduct “terrorist activities” and rebuild their network.
Records indicate that Farooq fled to Afghanistan after being acquitted in several cases, including murder, attempted murder, and militancy. Between 2013 and 2014, 10 cases were filed against him at various police stations in Karachi.
