KARACHI: Three terrorists were killed while a policemen and two civilians were martyred and 15 other people, including a rangers man, injured when gunmen attacked the office of Additional Inspector General (AIG) Karachi along Shahrah-e-Faisal on Friday.
According to the reports, the attackers equipped with the latest automatic weapons besieged the police headquarters and started indiscriminate firing. They also propelled two hand grenades into the five-storey building and tried to break into the office.
Police and Rangers teams concluded the operation to clear the Karachi Police Office (KPO) building from terrorists as police commandoes during encounter killed all three terrorists, said CPO Karachi official.
Sindh CM reached IGP Office and monitored full operation through Command and Control Center. The Karachi Police Office and its surrounding areas have been fully cleared, said the IGP office official. He said one terrorist was killed when his jacket exploded in the police fire while two terrorists were killed in retaliatory police fire.
A sweeper namely Ajmal, 30, lost his life in the attack. The martyred police official was identified as 50-year-old Ghulam Abbas. Reportedly 15 policemen, a rangers man and other people were injured in the attack. The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack that emerged around 7:15 pm.
Three floors of the five-storey building have been cleared, said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, adding two floors and the rooftop remained. Police officials said that armed suspects fired several rounds at the head office located adjacent to the Saddar Police Station. At least 8-10 terrorists were inside the police office, they said.
Additional police contingents from other areas took part in the operation. The Additional IG who is away from the office has confirmed the militant attack the office and said that the security forces were fighting the terrorists while a heavy contingent of Rangers reached the spot. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the attack on the office of the additional inspector-general and instructed several DIGs to send police force to the site.
“The attack on the Karachi police office is not acceptable under any circumstances,” he said, demanding an initial report from the concerned officer immediately. The chief minister mentioned that he was personally monitoring the situation and has directed officials concerned to arrest the suspects involved.