KARACHI: In a major counter-terrorism operation, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Sindh has successfully arrested two highly wanted terrorists belonging to the banned Naeem Bukhari Group, effectively averting a catastrophic disaster in the metropolis. The arrested individuals, identified as Muhammad Jamil Ansari (alias Shoaib/Chacha) and Hammad Ali Ansari (alias Zarrar/Babloo), had been in hiding since 2015 and were actively attempting to reactivate their sleeper cell in Karachi. According to the CTD spokesperson, Jamil Ansari is an Afghan-trained IED and circuit-making expert, while Hammad Ali Ansari is known to be a close associate of notorious terrorists Dildar (alias Chacha) and Imran Bhatti.
The suspects carry a history of involvement in severe terrorist activities, being wanted for multiple high-profile attacks including the horrific Karachi Airport assault and a 2015 motorcycle bomb attack on a Rapid Response Force (RRF) truck. Furthermore, they are booked in a 2013 case involving an IED blast that targeted a Rangers mobile van in the Korangi area. The Naeem Bukhari Group itself has been heavily implicated in the targeted killings of government officials and security personnel, and investigations have revealed that this arrested duo shares deep links with the specific terrorist network responsible for the assassination of renowned Qawwal Amjad Sabri as well as Military Police personnel.
During the raid, law enforcement agencies recovered a massive cache of explosives and weapon components, which included four explosive slabs, five detonators, ten meters of Prima card alongside a remote control device, and five pistol catchers. Following the successful operation, the CTD has registered fresh cases against the suspects under the Anti-Terrorism and Arms Acts, and an intensive interrogation process has been initiated from which authorities anticipate further high-profile disclosures.
