KARACHI
\nLaw enforcement agencies (LEAs) Friday night cleared the five-story office of the city\u2019s police chief after nearly a four-hour operation \u2014 days after a deadly attack in Peshawar\u2019s Police Lines.
\nAt least three militants blew themselves, while two were gunned down in the shootout, officials confirmed, as they swept the office situated on the main artery of Sharea Faisal.
\nFour people \u2014 including Rangers and police personnel \u2014 also lost their lives, and 18 people were injured, officials confirmed to Geo News, the latest attack on security forces as terrorism grips the nation.
\nThe incident invited strong criticism from the top government officials, however, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Geo News\u2019 Shahzeb Khanzada that \u201ccondemnations are not enough\u201d and strict action must be taken against militants.
\nThe attack began at 7:10pm, while police and Rangers personnel cleared the five-storey building in phases, finally sweeping the entire office by around 10:46pm.
\nPolice snipers took up positions near the station and all lights in the area were switched off.
\nA police officer, who did not want to be named, told Geo News that the attackers entered the office wearing police uniforms \u2014 a tactic similar to the Peshawar mosque suicide attack that claimed the lives of more than 80 people.
\nPolice officials said that armed suspects \u2014 whose total numbers are unknown at the moment \u2014 fired several rounds at the head office \u2014 located adjacent to the Sadar Police Station.
\nPolice sealed off traffic on the main thoroughfare through Karachi and heavy contingents of security forces, including Rangers and Pakistan Army\u2019s Special Service Group commandos, had arrived at the scene.
\n\u2018There is a general security threat\u2019
\nTalking exclusively to Geo News, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that commandos of police and Rangers had arrived at the site to deal with the terrorists.
\nHe said that the federal government is in touch with the Sindh Police and \u201call assistance will be provided.\u201d
\nSanaullah mentioned that he had spoken to the chief secretary and IG Sindh, who confirmed that the police saw \u201csix to seven terrorists\u201d entering the building.
\nResponding to a question, he said the general security threat exists following the terror attack in Peshawar. \u201cAll the institutions are fully alert across the country,\u201d he added.
\nThe security czar stressed the need for taking further steps to counter the fresh wave of terrorism.
\n\u201cThe police have said that the terrorists threw a grenade after parking the vehicle, and used that as a cover for entering the building,\u201d he revealed.
\n\u2018Not acceptable\u2019
\nForeign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman (PPP) \u2014 whose party is in power in the province \u2014 condemned the attack.
\n\u201cCondemn the terrorist attack on Karachi police. Sindh police have bravely faced and crushed terrorism before,\u201d he stated, taking to his official Twitter handle.
\nThe minister shared fears about more such attacks with hopes that the heinous acts won\u2019t deter the country.
\n\u201cWe have full faith they will do so again, such cowardly attacks will not deter us. #IstandwithKarachiPolice,\u201d Bilawal wrote.
\nSindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the attack on the office of the additional inspector-general, instructing several DIGs to send police force to the site.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KARACHI Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) Friday night cleared the five-story office of the city\u2019s police chief after nearly a four-hour operation \u2014 days after a deadly attack in Peshawar\u2019s Police Lines. At least three militants blew themselves, while two were gunned down in the shootout, officials confirmed, as they swept the office situated on the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":314366,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-314348","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n