Karachi: Taliban have established secret hideouts in the southern financial hub of Karachi and its militants “could take the city hostage at any point”, according to Pakistani police.
The CID Special Branch of police has highlighted the presence of Taliban in Karachi in a report submitted to the Sindh government and the provincial police chief.
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The Taliban have “huge caches” of weapons and ammunition and “could take the city hostage at any point,” the report said.
The report provides details about secret Taliban hideouts and their presence in areas like Sohrab Goth and Quaidabad.
Besides living in small motels in these areas, the Taliban are hiding in the hills of Manghopir and Orangi town and in other low-income areas and slums, the Daily Times newspaper quoted the police report as saying.
The daily also quoted sources as saying that the deputy chief of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban, Hasan Mahmood, was hiding in Karachi.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which is part of the coalition government in Sindh province, has often warned authorities that the Taliban had established a presence in Karachi. The Daily Times said the Special Branch report had “terrified” police and security personnel. Recently, personnel of the Anti-Violent Crime Cell had raided a guesthouse in Sohrab Goth but the Taliban apprehended them instead.
The militants were trying to execute the policemen when another police party intervened.
Two policemen were killed in the operation while a SSP and 11 other policemen were seriously injured. Police also arrested eight men who were said to be pro-Taliban militants.
On the directives of the Sindh government, a survey has been conducted of guesthouses across Karachi and senior police officials have asked for surveillance of these facilities.
Source: www.nhatky.in
