In a significant development, law enforcement officials in Karachi apprehended three terrorists responsible for a deadly shooting at a stall commemorating Independence Day in DHA Phase II. The incident resulted in the death of a young man named Aman, who was shot in front of his wife and children near Sunset Boulevard.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) for the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Sindh, Azfar Mahesar, along with SSP CTD Operations Irfan Bahadur, announced the arrests during a press briefing. The operation was conducted jointly with a federal intelligence agency, leading to the capture of the suspects near the Korangi Causeway river on August 18 following an encounter.
The detained individuals were identified as Zafar Sajjad and Faraz. Authorities recovered a pistol and a hand grenade from them. Four cases have been registered against these terrorists at the CTD, with an additional case filed at the Defence police station. The victim, Aman, was a resident of Korangi and had been working at the stall selling national flags and buntings when the attack occurred.
The suspects are affiliated with the banned Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) and were reportedly directed by a terrorist named Arsalan Shah, who operates from abroad. Their mission was to disrupt the Independence Day celebrations. Investigations have also traced facilitators connected to the accused. DIG Mahesar revealed that Sajjad Mallah conducted reconnaissance for the assault, after which the attackers arrived on two motorcycles and opened fire. CCTV footage has helped in identifying the suspects.
SSP Bahadur added that Arsalan Shah had transferred funds to the terrorists in early August. The attackers conducted reconnaissance two days prior to the shooting. Bahadur described the SRA as an Indian proxy aiming to incite chaos during national events. The group had also planned to target law enforcement personnel to instill fear on Independence Day. Authorities have pledged to dismantle the entire terror network soon.
Mahesar noted that the stall was targeted due to its vulnerability. He highlighted that intelligence-driven operations have led to the arrest of 100 terrorists and the elimination of four others. Reflecting on the broader security landscape, SSP Bahadur stated that terrorism incidents have declined by 78%, attributing this success to the persistent efforts of law enforcement agencies. The CTD has conducted over 900 operations, solving 80% of terrorism-related cases in 2026.
Investigators are also probing a previous attack on a CTD mobile unit, having secured crucial information. Mahesar explained that different sleeper cells activate to carry out sectarian killings, but there is no evidence of a previously active gang resurfacing. Terror financing cases have been filed against facilitators, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend Arsalan Shah, who is expected to be arrested and extradited soon.
