The ‘main facilitator’ of last year’s attack on Chinese consulate in Karachi has been arrested from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Counter-Terrorism Department Deputy Inspector General Abdullah Sheikh said the suspect was present in Karachi at the time of the attack. According to him, the accused had received an amount of Rs 0.9 million for the attack which he distributed among the attackers.
Sheikh said the suspect has connections in foreign countries and has been arrested on CTD’s identification.
Earlier this month, Karachi Additional IGP Dr Amir Sheikh had said that India and its Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) members were involved in the attack along with terrorists belonging to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
He had claimed that the attack had been planned in Afghanistan and the purpose was to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). On November 23 last year, security forces had foiled an attack on the Chinese consulate located in Clifton neighbourhood of Karachi. The security personnel had killed all the attackers, and seized suicide jackets and ammunition. Two policemen were martyred in the attack, while staff at the consulate remained unhurt.
Published in Daily Times, January 30th 2019.
