CTD registers FIR against 'mastermind' of attack on Izharul Hasan

KARACHI: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Sindh Police has registered a FIR of a ‘shootout’ with three suspects, including the mastermind of assasination bid on MQM leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan. The MQM leader escaped the attack but a policeman and a boy killed in the attack.

The CTD lodged the FIR on the complaint of the station house officer (SHO) of Sohrab Goth police station under the relevant provisions of murder, attempted murder, encounter and terrorism against Abdul Karim Sarosh Siddiqui, Muzammil and Muhammad Talha.

A policeman was martyred while another received bullet injuries when Sarosh, who was allegedly behind the attack on the MQM leader, opened fire on them during a gun battle in Kaneez Fatima Society, SSP Malir Rao Anwar had said a day before.

He said the police mounted a cordon following a tip-off that the terrorist was present in the area. On being sighted, the suspect opened fire on the police team from the rooftop, leaving a personnel dead on the spot and another injured, he added.

Rao said the terror suspect managed to flee the raid and efforts were underway to arrest him. The suspect identified as Abdul Karim Sarosh Siddiqui, a former student of the Applied Physics department at University of Karachi, was mastermind of the assassination attempt on Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan, the police officer claimed.

He was associated with the banned outfit, Ansar ul Sharia Pakistan (ASP), he added.

He said six suspects, including Siddiqui’s father, were arrested from the premises of the building and were shifted to an unidentified place for interrogation. Several other suspects were also arrested from the area, he added.

Rao later claimed to have arrested ASP’s spokesperson during a raid in Defense area. He said the raid was carried out following the lead provided by the arrested father of Sarosh Siddiqui. The suspect was also involved in the assassination attempt on the MQM leader.