In a joint operation with a federal intelligence agency, the Sindh Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has arrested a would-be suicide bomber associated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its Maulvi Mukhlis group, CTD officials said on Sunday.
CTD SSP Irfan Bahadur said Salman Ibrahim, alias Abu Huraira, was caught after an encounter. Authorities described him as a trained member of a covert TTP sleeper cell and a close associate of Zafran, alias Abu Huraira, a most-wanted terrorist carrying a bounty of Rs10 million who was killed in a CTD operation.
Officials claimed the suspect had been involved in an attack on foreign nationals working at the Liberty Textile Mills in Karachi’s SITE-A area, where several people had suffered gunshot wounds. Ibrahim was caught with a ready-to-use suicide jacket, along with photographs and maps of sensitive locations.
Investigators said that following Zafran’s death, Sher Zaman, alias Maulvi Mukhlis Yar, the alleged chief of the TTP’s Special Force, despatched Ibrahim and other militants to Karachi to carry out a major suicide attack.
CTD officials claimed that more suicide bombers are expected to arrive in the city. They said that one of Ibrahim’s associates had been killed in a suicide attack on Frontier Corps personnel in Quetta in 2025, while another associate had been killed in a suicide bombing at the Dera Ismail Khan Police Training Centre the same year.
Investigators said Ibrahim had received commando-style suicide attack training in Afghanistan, andhe had arrived in Karachi with Idrees, alias Asadullah, who remains at large. According to the CTD, the group initially planned targeted killings before carrying out a suicide bombing in Karachi alongside other operatives.
The CTD identified other members of the network as Zaman, who is based in Afghanistan, alleged TTP commander Muhammad Shoaib Iqbal, alias Muneeb Cheema, alleged TTP commander Izharul Haq, alias Maulvi Hamza, and Idrees, alias Asadullah, an alleged suicide bomber who is currently absconding.
Police have registered two cases against Ibrahim at the CTD police station. Officials said the suspect is being interrogated, and further revelations are expected. Joint teams of the CTD and intelligence agencies have been formed to trace and arrest other militants, facilitators and target killers linked to the network.
