KARACHI: Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested a banned TTP suicide bomber from Karachi, officials said.
According to a CTD spokesperson, the arrested militant was identified as Salman Matloob, a close associate of terrorist Zafran. Zafran was killed in an encounter with CTD and carried a Rs 10 million bounty.
Salman and his accomplices had earlier injured foreign nationals working in Karachi’s SITE area in a firing attack. From his possession, CTD recovered one suicide jacket, photographs of sensitive installations and maps.
The spokesperson said Salman along with others had been sent to Karachi for a major suicide attack. Some of his suicide bomber associates were still due to arrive in the city. One of his accomplices was killed in a 2025 suicide attack on FC in Quetta, while another died in last year’s suicide bombing at the DI Khan Police Training Centre.
CTD said Salman received training for suicide attacks in Afghanistan and came to Karachi with associate Idris alias Asadullah on orders of Maulvi Mukhlas Yar. After carrying out targeted killings, they were to conduct suicide blasts in Karachi with their accomplices.
Joint teams have been formed to arrest Salman’s organizational associates and target killers. Raids are underway to apprehend his facilitators and remaining members.
