KARACHI: A terrorist affiliated with the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), identified as the “mastermind” behind the February 2023 attack on the Karachi Police Office (KPO), was killed in a Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) encounter in the Mochko area of Karachi on Tuesday night.
According to the CTD, Omar Farooq, the mastermind, was killed during an intelligence-based operation near the Northern Bypass in Mochko. Acting on a tip-off, the team raided an area near Hanfia Mosque. The suspect, who was at the scene, opened fire on the police to evade arrest. During the exchange, the terrorist was wounded and fell. A police officer’s bulletproof vest was struck by a bullet, but the officer remained unharmed. A 9mm pistol was recovered from the terrorist.
The Sindh Home Department had earlier issued a threat alert regarding the presence of TTP terrorists.
Last year, CTD personnel killed two terrorists in the Manghopir area of Karachi who were also involved in the KPO attack. The slain terrorists were identified as Iryadullah, son of Gul Qadir Khan, and Abdul Waheed, son of Saif Mali Khan. According to CTD officials, 26-year-old Iryadullah was the Karachi commander of the TTP, while Abdul Waheed was 23 years old.
