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Attack on Khawaja Izhar attempt to discredit police: Sindh Rangers
KARACHI: The Sindh Rangers on Sunday termed the September 2 attack on MQM Pakistan leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan a conspiracy against security agencies. Addressing a press conference, Col Faisal Arif said that the attack had been carried out by Ansarul Shariah Pakistan (ASP). “The attack was a grave conspiracy to discredit police and law enforcement […]
KARACHI: The Sindh Rangers on Sunday termed the September 2 attack on MQM Pakistan leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan a conspiracy against security agencies.
Addressing a press conference, Col Faisal Arif said that the attack had been carried out by Ansarul Shariah Pakistan (ASP).
“The attack was a grave conspiracy to discredit police and law enforcement agencies. One of the attackers was wearing a police uniform. The other, Sarosh, was seen wearing a T-shirt. At the time of the attack, police were performing their duty at a nearby imambargah. After hearing the gunshots, they ran outside and started chasing the attackers on foot. The attackers tried to show that the police or the government was involved in the attack on the MQM leader,” he said.
He said that intelligence information and evidence about the ASP had been colleged. “ASP is a small group of about 12-15 members, six to eight of whom are members of its target killing team. The remaining members provide back-up support and funding,” he said.
He identified the head of the group as Sheheryaruddin Warsi, alias Dr Abdullah Hashmi, and confirmed that he had been killed in an operation on Saturday night in Karachi’s Raees Goth area.
Eight members of the ASP were killed during the operation, he said, adding that four terrorists had fled. Col Faisal identified the remaining terrorists who had been killed as Arsalan Baig, Mehrul Haq, Saad Jamal, Hasaan Haroon, Talha Ansari, Kamran Riaz and Abubakr.
“Raids are underway to find the four absconding terrorists, identified as Danish Rashid, Junaid Rashid, Sarosh and Muzammil. They fled the site of the operation on Saturday night,” Col Faisal said.
Col Faisal said that Sheheryaruddin Warsi was the mastermind behind the group’s terrorist activities and operated ASP’s social media accounts. He was also the spokesperson for the group.
The Rangers official said all the terrorists were educated in institutions in Karachi and went on to receive terrorism training in an Al Qaeda camp in Afghanistan. “They were ideologically linked to the Al Qaeda,” he said.
“During raids on ASP hideouts, weapons, ammunition, video recording devices, video recordings, and extremist literature was seized,” he said.
The Rangers official revealed that people close to the militants had been interrogated and that it had become clear that none of their family members knew they were involved in such activities.
He said that the group had initiated its activities in Karachi on February 21 when a police officer was killed in the city’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar area. “Shehryaruddin Warsi planned the attack. Reconnaissance was carried out by Muzammil, Sarosh and Hasaan. Later, in April, retired Col Ziaullah Nagi was killed as the group declared its affiliation with Al Qaeda,” he said. “On May 21, three police officers were killed in Karachi’s Bahadurabad area. Later in June, four police officers were killed while opening their fast in the Site area. The group was also responsible for the killing of District Superintendent Police Hanif Shah in Karachi’s Azizabad area,” Col Faisal said.
Published in Daily Times, October 23rd 2017.
