CTD shoots TTP terrorists behind killing of DSP Ali Raza in Karachi

• CTD conducts raid in Sher Shah district of Karachi.
• Kill terrorists Hafiz Qasim Rasheed and Usman Qureshi.
• RHe covers target lists, suicide vests and suspect grenades.

KARACHI: Amid intensive efforts by security forces to combat the scourge of terrorism, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Sunday achieved a decisive success by shooting dead two terrorists involved in the assassination of CTD Deputy Commissioner of Police (DSP) Ali Raza were involved.

The militants, identified as Hafiz Qasim Rasheed and Usman Qureshi, were neutralized during a raid in Karachi's Sher Shah district, the CTD spokesperson said, adding that the former had spent 12 years in prison and was the emir of the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi be in town.

In July, DSP Raza, a close friend of another martyr, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Chaudhry Aslam, was martyred after he was attacked by assailants in Karimabad district in July.

The martyred policeman received a bullet in the head when the gunmen opened fire on him and was immediately rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

A security guard at the apartment building also died in the violent gun attack.

An initial investigation report (FIR) has been registered for DSP Ali Raza's killing, furnishing murder and terrorism charges at CTD police station in the name of Azizabad police station house officer Imran Khan Afridi.

Speaking to journalists outside the Civil Hospital, CTD Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Asif Aijaz Shaikh confirmed the identity of the militants and their affiliation with a banned organization.

Giving details of the terrorists, CTD officer Raja Umar Khattab said the duo had recently joined the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“The suspects were directly involved in the murder of DSP Raza [and] were involved in more than 35 cases – including 25 murder cases,” Khattab said, adding that the raid was carried out based on the information provided by two accomplices – identified as Naeem and Hamza – of the suspects who were arrested last month. were provided.

The terrorists conducted a “reconnaissance” of the slain DSP officer, he added.

Noting that the identification parade of the arrested militants was completed, the CTD official disclosed that the target list as well as modern weapons, suicide vests, hand grenades and ball bearings were recovered from the slain terrorists and that more attacks were planned in the city.

Furthermore, the CTD spokesperson revealed that the killed terrorists were supported by Syed Ahmed Hassan – a militant of the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba.