Karachi airport attack 'conspiracy' to undermine Pak-China ties: CTD

• Bombing made possible following involvement of banned BLA.
• Intelligence agency of hostile country supported execution of attack.
• Key masterminds behind attack associated with banned outfit.

A week after the deadly explosion targeting a convoy of Chinese engineers in Karachi on October 6, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has termed the attack "a conspiracy to undermine Pakistan-China relations".

On the night of October 6, a suicide bomber had rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into the convoy of Chinese engineers, resulting in the deaths of two Chinese nationals among three fatalities, while 16 others, including another Chinese national, were injured. The attack also caused significant damage to more than 15 vehicles.

Responsibility for the attack was claimed by banned Balochistan Liberation Army's (BLA) Majeed Brigade via social media.

The CTD, in the copy of its initial report submitted to the administrative judge of the anti-terrorism courts, revealed that the bombing was made possible with the involvement of the banned outfit. 

According to the report, the horrific attack was carried out with support from an intelligence agency of a hostile country.

The attacker drove his vehicle close to a convoy carrying Chinese nationals and detonated his charge, the report said, adding that the explosion took place near the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) guardroom.

An FIR No 142/24 has been filed under the Pakistan Penal Code’s sections 302 (murder), 353 (assault to deter public servant from discharging duty), 324 (attempted murder), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharging public functions) and 427 (mischief causing damage).

The case registered at a Counter Terrorism Department police station on the complaint of the Airport Police Station’s House Officer (SHO) Kaleem Khan Moosa also includes sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substances Act, and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The FIR quotes the SHO as saying that while he was on duty at around 11pm, a loud explosion was heard. Upon investigation, it was found that the explosion had occurred on the road in front of the CAA guardroom, near the outer signal of the Jinnah International Airport Terminal Road.

Several vehicles were destroyed in the blast, and fires broke out. Multiple individuals, including Rangers, police personnel and civilians, were injured, while two Chinese nationals were killed on the spot. 

Their bodies were found near the coaster, while parts of a third body were retrieved from a nearby drain.

The complainant stated that when the police arrived at the blast site, witnesses informed them that an unidentified man driving a Toyota Hilux had intentionally crashed his explosive-laden vehicle into the convoy of Chinese engineers, which was heading towards Sharea Faisal from the Jinnah Terminal. The explosion occurred as the convoy was passing by.

The FIR notes that through media outlets, the banned BLA claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, and that the key masterminds behind the attack are associated with the militant outfit, including BLA chief Bashir Ahmed Baloch, alias Bashir Zaib, and Abdur Rahman, alias Rehman Gul.

They, along with other accomplices, brainwashed the suicide bomber and carried out the attack using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. The motive behind the attack was to harm Pakistan-China relations, promote terrorism in Pakistan with the support of a hostile foreign spy agency, and disrupt the security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan.

The FIR also states that the attackers aimed to undermine the morale of the country’s security agencies, and destabilise the region for financial and ideological benefits linked to their banned group.

BLA releases video message by Karachi airport suicide bomber

BLA, following the attack, released a video message recorded by Shah Fahad, the suicide bomber involved in the attack. 

In the video running for six minutes and nine seconds, Fahad, a member of BLA’s Majeed Brigade, was seen wearing a light blue shalwar kameez and sitting in a car. The clip appears to have been recorded shortly before the attack.

Both at the beginning and at the end of the video, which was published on BLA’s media channel 'Hakkal', he can be heard issuing a warning.

It is important to note that a high-level team of Chinese investigators also visited in Karachi to inspect the site of the suicide attack near the airport signal that targeted a Chinese delegation and their security convoy.

The Chinese investigation team visited the blast site and, after inspecting the area, were briefed by Pakistani investigation officers on the findings thus far.