By Ahsan Mughal
KARACHI: Karachi was narrowly spared a major attack after law enforcement agencies arrested several suspected militants and seized a large cache of explosives during a joint operation in the Raees Goth area on the city’s outskirts, officials said.
According to investigators, the suspects had been preparing explosive material inside a rented house located around 35 to 40 kilometers from Karachi. Acting on intelligence, law enforcement agencies, along with the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Karachi, carried out a raid on the property, where a significant quantity of explosive material was recovered. During the operation, three to four suspects managed to escape, officials said.
Three men were arrested at the scene and identified as Niaz Qadir, also known as King, Hamdan alias Fareed, and Jalil Ahmed alias Fareed. On information obtained during initial questioning, authorities later arrested two more suspects and recovered additional explosives from their possession.
Officials said a Mazda mini-truck concealed under old clothes was found loaded with explosive material. The haul included around 30 plastic drums filled with explosive chemicals, five gas cylinders, primer cards and various types of detonators. The total quantity of explosive material was estimated at approximately 2,000 kilograms. Bomb disposal teams rendered the explosives safe and secured the surrounding area to prevent any immediate danger.
Investigators said the explosives had been prepared for a planned attack on a major commercial location in Karachi, with Dolmen Mall identified as a possible target. The scale of the materials recovered suggested the intention to cause mass casualties, officials added.
In a preliminary statement, investigators claimed the suspects were linked to the network of Bashir Zaib, a commander of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army’s Majeed Brigade, and alleged that the group was receiving external funding.
These claims have not been independently verified. No casualties were reported during the operation. Authorities said investigations were continuing to trace the wider network involved and to locate the suspects who escaped.
