An arrested terrorist claims the June 27 attack on a Karachi Rangers transport workshop was orchestrated by the banned Afghanistan-based group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. The assault, which killed three Rangers personnel, involved a suicide bomber and three gunmen who allegedly used a Korangi safe house to plan the strike.
Who was responsible for the Rangers workshop attack?
According to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Sindh, five cases have been registered following the terrorist attack on a Rangers transport company in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. The incident resulted in the deaths of Havaldar Riaz, Sepoy Dawood Parvez, and Sepoy Abdul Qadeer.
During interrogation, the arrested suspect, identified as Usman alias Ali, claimed the attackers belonged to the banned Jamaat-ul-Ahrar organization. Usman, who is from Jalalabad, Afghanistan, alleged that the group’s commanders—Umar Qari, Maulvi Ahrar, and Abdul Wajid—dispatched the cell to Pakistan to disrupt peace and inflict maximum casualties.
Did You Know? Police recovered 43 spent SMG shell casings and seized an unexploded hand grenade from the scene.
How was the assault planned and executed?
The attack began around 8:00 p.m. on June 27 when a suicide bomber detonated himself at the main gate of the Rangers Transport Company (TC) Workshop. As Rangers personnel moved toward the gate, three armed terrorists entered the premises and opened indiscriminate fire while hurling hand grenades.
The suspect told investigators that the attackers stayed at a temporary safe house in Korangi with the help of local facilitators. He also claimed that Afghanistan-based members, including Mullah Tahir Afghani, Mullah Abdul Mannan, and Umar Afridi, provided training for the mission.
While Usman is an Afghan national, he identified his accomplices Janan, Umar, and Abdul Hadi as part of the cell. According to the investigation, Abdul Hadi was a Pakistani citizen from Bajaur who had been associated with a terrorist organization in Afghanistan and arrived in Karachi one week prior to the assault.
Expert Insight: According to the investigation, the attackers used local facilitators and a temporary safe house in Korangi to carry out reconnaissance of the Rangers workshop before launching the assault.
What is the current security situation in Karachi?
In the wake of the attack, police have intensified crackdowns on undocumented foreign residents. In the Malir district, Quaidabad police conducted an operation near Khyber Gali, the Plastic Warehouse, and Sher Pao Colony, resulting in the detention of six individuals.
Among those detained were five Afghan nationals—identified as Abdul Hadi, Ayaz, Ehsanullah, Yaseen, and Mohammad Akbar—who were allegedly living unlawfully in a warehouse. The owner of the property, Hassan Nawab, was also booked for providing accommodation to undocumented foreign nationals.
The five Afghan nationals face charges under Section 14-D of the Foreigners Act, while the warehouse owner faces charges under Section 11 of the Sindh Temporary Residence Act. This increased enforcement could lead to further investigations into local safe houses used by undocumented residents.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many Rangers personnel were killed in the Gulistan-e-Jauhar attack?
Three Rangers personnel—Havaldar Riaz, Sepoy Dawood Parvez, and Sepoy Abdul Qadeer—were martyred in the attack. - Which organization has been linked to the attack by the arrested suspect?
The arrested terrorist, Usman alias Ali, claimed the attack was carried out by the banned Jamaat-ul-Ahrar organization operating from Afghanistan. - What actions were taken against the warehouse owner in Malir?
The owner was booked under Section 11 of the Sindh Temporary Residence Act for allegedly providing accommodation to undocumented foreign nationals.
How will the link between local facilitators and foreign militant groups impact future security operations in Karachi?