KARACHI: Police have arrested the alleged mastermind behind the June 27 terrorist attack on a Pakistan Rangers camp in Karachi, claiming that the entire operation was planned in Afghanistan before being executed in Pakistan.
Speaking at a joint press conference on Tuesday, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Irfan Bahadur said the prime suspect, Qari Bashir, had confessed to planning the attack after being arrested by security forces. The briefing was attended by Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho and Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar.
According to the CTD, the attack involved four terrorists who attempted to storm a Rangers facility after detonating explosives at its main gate. Pakistan Rangers personnel successfully repelled the assault, killing three attackers and capturing one alive despite suffering casualties. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had earlier confirmed that three Rangers personnel were martyred while four others were injured during the exchange of fire.
Bahadur said investigators found evidence suggesting the operation was planned in Afghanistan, where the attackers were allegedly selected, trained and assigned specific roles before entering Pakistan through Balochistan. He claimed Qari Bashir travelled to Afghanistan to receive instructions before arranging accommodation, reconnaissance and logistics for the attackers in Karachi.
Investigators also recovered videos from Bashir’s mobile phone, which allegedly showed preparations for the attack and his farewell to the militants before the operation. The CTD said one of the attackers was a suicide bomber identified as Janan, while another suspect, Usman, was captured alive after being injured during the security operation.
Police further alleged that the attackers received weapons, including Kalashnikov rifles and grenades, through a six-member smuggling network linked to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Authorities said 13 facilitators have been identified, and investigations are continuing to dismantle the wider network.
Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar said the attackers intended to seize hostages and cause mass casualties, but the Rangers’ swift response prevented a larger tragedy. Additional IG CTD Zulfiqar Lark added that all individuals directly involved in the assault had either been arrested or killed, while efforts remain focused on identifying and apprehending remaining facilitators linked to the alleged cross-border terror network.
