A major security operation unfolded in Karachi on Saturday after militants launched an assault on a Sindh Rangers headquarters in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, leaving three Rangers personnel martyred and three attackers dead. The incident began near Mosamiat Chowrangi, where residents reported hearing a powerful explosion followed by sustained gunfire, sending panic through the surrounding neighbourhood as people rushed indoors and roads were quickly sealed off.
Image Credits: Dawn News
According to Sindh Police chief Javed Alam Odho, the attackers attempted to breach the compound by driving a vehicle into the facility’s main gate before opening fire. Authorities initially worked to determine whether the vehicle itself had exploded or whether another blast had occurred during the attack. Security personnel stationed at the headquarters immediately returned fire, leading to a fierce gun battle inside and around the premises.
Clearance operation launched as authorities secure the area
Within minutes, police, Sindh Rangers, the Special Security Unit (SSU), the Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) and other law enforcement teams reached the scene, surrounding the entire area and shutting down traffic on roads leading towards Gulistan-e-Jauhar Block 6, Kamran Chowrangi and nearby localities. A clearance and mopping-up operation was launched to ensure no additional militants had managed to escape or remain hidden inside the compound.
Rescue teams were also dispatched, while hospitals remained on alert. Officials confirmed that one injured Rangers official was shifted for medical treatment after sustaining a gunshot wound to his leg during the exchange of fire.
Three militants killed as investigation continues
By the time the operation concluded, security forces had killed three militants involved in the attack. The attack, however, claimed the lives of three Rangers personnel, making it one of the deadliest militant incidents in Karachi in recent years.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar immediately sought detailed reports from senior police officials, directing law enforcement agencies to complete the operation, investigate how the attackers reached such a heavily guarded installation and determine whether they had received outside assistance. Although a faction linked to Jamaat-ul-Ahrar later claimed responsibility, Pakistani authorities have not officially verified the claim and investigations remain ongoing.
Fresh reminder of Pakistan’s evolving security threat
The attack comes at a time when Pakistan has witnessed a renewed rise in militant violence, particularly targeting security forces across different parts of the country. While Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have experienced the majority of recent attacks, the assault in Karachi highlights that militant groups continue to retain the capability to strike high-security targets beyond traditional conflict zones.
Although the immediate threat was neutralised after the hours-long operation, investigators are continuing to examine every aspect of the attack, including the planning, logistics and possible facilitators behind it, as security agencies work to prevent similar assaults in the country’s largest city.
Disclaimer: This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.
Sources: Dawn, Al-Jazeera, Reuters, Geo News, Dunya News
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