KARACHI: Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjhar revealed on Monday that law enforcement agencies have arrested four suspects connected to a recent suicide attack targeting Chinese engineers near Karachi Airport. Among those detained are the alleged mastermind and three other suspects: a woman, a rickshaw driver, and a bank employee.
Joined by Sindh Police Inspector General Ghulam Nabi Memon at a press conference in Karachi, Lanjhar shared details of the attack, which tragically resulted in the deaths of three people, including two Chinese engineers, and left 11 others injured. The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the assault.
Lanjhar identified the suicide bomber as Shah Fahad, explaining that the explosive device detonated when he pulled the handbrake of his vehicle, leaving only fragments of his body behind. Authorities confirmed his identity using fingerprints and CCTV footage, which captured images of both the bomber and two facilitators. A fragment of the vehicle’s chassis was recovered from the crime scene, adding to the evidence.
According to Lanjhar, the attackers purchased the vehicle used in the attack for Rs7.1 million through a bank transfer originating from Hub, with the transaction traced back to an account under Faisal Ali’s name. The excise department’s data indicated that two men, Farhan and Sharif, along with the bomber, were involved in the car purchase.
Among those detained was Bilal, a bank employee suspected of financing the attack. Authorities believe the vehicle was driven to a remote location and loaded with 30 to 40 kilograms of explosives, including RDX and Pent, a material reportedly used during World War II. A woman, Gul Nisa, was placed in the vehicle to help it evade scrutiny at checkpoints, but she has since been arrested and is under investigation.
The main suspect, Javed, is alleged to have orchestrated the logistics of the attack, conducting reconnaissance and alerting the team as the Chinese nationals left the airport. He was identified through CCTV footage and was arrested in Winder.
Three other suspects—Danish, Gul Rehman, and Bashir Zaid—are still at large. Rehman reportedly heads BLA operations, while Zaid, based overseas, oversees the group’s activities. Authorities are also searching for a new figure named Vishney, suspected to be using a fictitious identity.
Lanjhar highlighted disturbing findings from the investigation, including revelations that university students in Karachi and Balochistan are being recruited by banned organizations for extremist activities. He urged university administrations and student organizations to remain vigilant against such influences.
In a critique of BLA tactics, Lanjhar expressed outrage over the exploitation of women in attacks and announced a recommendation of a Rs50 million reward, along with Quaid-e-Azam and Pakistan Police medals, for the investigative team’s efforts.
