FIR against Taliban for Karachi airport raid, Pakistan Army to target militant hideouts

Zee Media Bureau/Supriya Jha Karachi: In the aftermath of the deadly Taliban attack on Karachi`s biggest international airport, Pakistan Police on Wednesday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the banned terror outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army has decided to intensify airstrikes on Taliban hideouts in wake of the attacks. The decision was taken by the Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif during a meeting of the Formation Commanders at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, reported the Dawn news. The FIR was lodged under the Anti-Terrorism Act in Karachi`s airport police station, against Taliban`s top brass including chief Mullah Fazlullah and spokesman Shahidullah Shahid.

According to local media reports, the FIR was registered on the complaint of Airport Security Force (ASF)`s Assistant Director. Taliban claimed responsibility for the brazen attack on Karachi`s Jinnah International Airport that sparked a 5-hour gunbattle between terrorists and the security forces. The deadly siege on the airport`s old terminal that started on late Sunday night, ended on Monday evening, killing 30 including 10 terrorists. Also, seven were killed trapped in the cold storage facility after they hid there to evade Taliban`s assault. The Talibani militants returned again the next day to attack the Airport Safety Forces (ASF) Academy near Jinnah airport, but were repulsed immediately by the Pak Rangers and ASF forces. Reportedly, the four terrorists fled to adjoining residential areas and a massive hunt operation is on to trace them. All the airports in Pakistan have been put on red alert, especially Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport and the international airport in Sialkot. The militants had planned to hijack and blow the planes, said the Taliban spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid, who added that more such attacks were in store as the banned group seeks revenge for death of Hakimullah Mehsud and other militants in North Waziristan.