Karachi attack deaths rise to 5 as injured cop dies

FIR of the incident registered against perpetrators, facilitators, CTD to investigate

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah offered Namaz-e-Jinaza of Constable Abdul Latif who succumbed to injuries sustained during the terrorist attack on KPO on Feb 17 and laid a floral wreath on his coffin wrapped in the national flag and flag of the police department.

The death toll from the terrorist attacks rose to five after Latif’s passing. His Namaz-e-Jinaza was held at Police Garden Headquarters and was attended by provincial minister Saeed Ghani, IG Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Additional IG Javed Odho, Commissioner Karachi Iqbal Memon, additional IGs, DIGs, SSP, a family member of Shaheed constable and members of Civil Society.

The CM while speaking to the family members of the shaheed constable said that Abdul Latif was a brave policeman and sacrifice his life while fighting against the terrorists. The sacrifice he rendered will always be remembered in history. Shah while talking to the brothers of Shaheed Abdul Latif. said, “We tried our best to save his life by providing him with the best medical treatment, but he succumbed – may Allah rest him in peace.”

The CM carried the casket of the constable to the ambulance and prayed for the departed soul.

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Shaheed Constable Abdul Latif joined Sindh police on Ex-army quota on February 17, 2014, and was currently serving in Security-I. He sustained multiple injuries while fighting against terrorists and was shifted to JPMC where he succumbed. Latif left a widow, six daughters, and one son.

Meanwhile, an FIR was registered against the perpetrators and their facilitators on the complaint of Saddar Station House Officer (SHO) Khalid Hussain. Hussain said that the investigation had been handed over to the Counter-Terrorism Department. The protest was registered at the CTD police station on Saturday under Sections 34 (common intention), 120 (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 324 (attempted murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 427 (mischief causing damage amounting to Rs50) and 460 (breaking into a house for murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code, and Sections 3/4 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 read with Sections 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) and 21(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Hussain said that he was busy patrolling the vicinity of the Saddar police station on Friday when he was alerted at 7:15 pm that unknown armed terrorists had attacked the KPO, adding that he reached the spot at 7:20 pm along with other police personnel. He said that additional personnel were requested from other police stations and law enforcement agencies. The FIR said that an operation was planned under the supervision of South Deputy Inspector General of Police Irfan Baloch. It added that the KPO was a four-story building in which the terrorists were resorting to firing and using hand grenades.

“In light of the instructions from officers, forces entered the building from different points under a plan of action,” the FIR said. The complainant also added that the fight with the terrorists moved from the second floor to the third floor once they fled and then opened fire and used grenades, injuring police and rangers personnel.

“Due to strong retaliatory fire from security forces, one terrorist blew himself on the third floor’s stairs while his accomplices reached the fourth floor where one terrorist was killed by retaliatory fire in an intense battle,” the FIR said, adding that the final terrorist took up position on the roof, injuring security personnel with his fire but was soon killed.

The FIR said that witnesses told that terrorists left their car outside the Saddar Police Line family quarters, walked to the KPO, and entered it after cutting the barbed wire. It added that there were two other people with them who pointed out the KPO to the militants and fled after hugging them. The SHO said that the KPO building was severely damaged due to the incident and the terrorists had the support of foreign powers for their planned operation, adding that the TTP had also claimed responsibility via social media for the attack.

Hanif Samoon is a senior journalist based at Thar/Badin and contributes reports from different districts of Sindh to Minute Mirror. He has won a number of awards, including the Agahi Award twice for his stories on health and child rights. He tweets @HanifSamoon1 and can be reached through email at [email protected]