Karachi Terrorist Rangers and CTD kill highly wanted militant in joint operation

Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Sindh have killed a highly wanted Karachi Terrorist in an exchange of fire during a joint intelligence-based operation, the Sindh Rangers said on Sunday.

The operation took place in the Gulbai area of Sher Shah after intelligence agencies received information about the presence of the militant, according to the Rangers spokesperson.

The deceased was identified as Qari Ziaur Rehman, also known as Qari Saifullah, a resident of Bajaur in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Rangers said they recovered weapons and ammunition from him.

The spokesperson said Rehman was wanted by law enforcement agencies for his alleged involvement in several attacks on Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps camps and other acts of terrorism.

According to the Rangers, Rehman joined the group led by Qari Darvesh, also known as Bandiwan, in 2006. He later received training at a militant camp in Bajaur.

The spokesperson said Rehman also performed picket duty at hideouts belonging to banned militant commander Moulvi Faqir Mohammad between 2006 and 2008.

Rangers said Rehman took part in an attack on a Pakistan Army camp in Bajaur in 2007, along with several other attacks.

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He fled to Afghanistan during a military operation in 2012, where he allegedly received further training at a camp in Bandhar Dara, Nangarhar, according to the statement.

The Rangers said Rehman later became involved in attacks on Pakistani security posts along the Afghan border.

The spokesperson said Rehman had recently travelled from Afghanistan to Karachi and was allegedly organising a network to carry out terrorist activities at sensitive locations across the city.

The operation comes as Pakistan Rangers continue to assist civil authorities in maintaining law and order in Sindh. The Sindh Assembly recently approved a one-year extension of the Rangers’ deployment and policing powers in the province, from July 20, 2026 to July 19, 2027.

The assembly said the extension was necessary because of the province’s security situation. It credited Rangers operations with helping reduce target killings and street crime while warning that banned organisations and absconding suspects remained a threat.

Rangers have also faced militant attacks in Karachi. On June 27, armed militants attempted to storm a Rangers camp after detonating explosives at its main gate.

According to the military’s media wing, Rangers personnel repelled the attack, killing three attackers and capturing a fourth in an injured condition. Three Rangers personnel were killed and four others wounded during the exchange of fire.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) identified the attackers as members of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and said the captured militant was an Afghan national.