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KARACHI: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Thursday foiled an attack on Chinese dentist in Hyderabad, arresting a suspected member of an outlawed outfit.
The suspect, Mohammad Afzal Loond, also known as Aafi, was apprehended during a CTD operation in the Gulistan-e-Jauhar neighborhood close to Kamran Chaurangi.
Loond is charged with plotting to assassinate a Chinese doctor in Hyderabad and is said to be a member of the outlawed militant group Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA), according to CTD officials.
From the suspect, law enforcement officers seized a weapon and a motorcycle.
It was revealed during the investigation that the suspect was in direct contact with the SRA’s exiled leader Zulfiqar Khaskheli, also known as Safeer who, according to the suspect, was supporting him financially.
The suspect further disclosed to the CTD investigators that he purchased the motorcycle and pistol with funds supplied to him by Khaskheli.
According to the CTD, which quoted the suspect, Khaskheli had given Loond the order to kill a Chinese doctor in Hyderabad and had also scouted the target. He was, however, apprehended before the plan could be put into action.
The CTD spokesman also said that the suspect was a fellow of the suspects that attacked a Chinese dental clinic in Karachi.
In September, an armed attacker posing as a dental patient killed a Chinese-Pakistani dual national and injured two others at a clinic run by one of the victims, according to the police.
Dr. Richard Hu, Margrate Hu, and Ronald were the victims; they were all dual citizens of Pakistan and China.
Chinese nationals have been the target of militant attacks in recent years; most notably, earlier this year, an attack on Chinese teachers at Karachi University.