Slain terrorist turns out to be most-wanted BLA commander

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has achieved a major breakthrough as the terrorist who had been killed in Shah Latif Town Malir in Karachi on February 17 turned out to be a senior commander of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday.

According to the CTD officials, Sohail Baloch alias Gurk, the slain terrorist, was a senior commander of BLA’s Al-Fatah squad, and was the mastermind of several incidents of terrorism.

He also acted as a coordinator between terrorists and supplied weapons to them.

The officials went on to say that Sohail was also involved in the targeted killing of Deputy Commissioner Panjgur Zakir Baloch in Khuzdar.

Besides that, he was also responsible for the deaths of over 50 security forces personnel and citizens in several acts of terror, the officials said, adding that it was Sohail who had sent five suicide bombers for an attack on the Jaafar Express.

They elaborated that Sohail would also set up pickets on roads and would loot people.

Previously, he had remained associated with Baloch Liberation Front.

In 2022, he joined the BLA and rose to become a senior commander of the outfit.

Officials termed his killing a big setback for the BLA.

Giving details of the operation in which Sohail was killed, the officials said that the CTD personnel surrounded a hideout of terrorists on the basis of information provided by his accomplices.

An exchange of fire took place during the operation, which culminated in the deaths of four most-wanted terrorists, the officials said, adding that the identity of three terrorists was established immediately, while the fourth terrorist could not be identified.

However, later, the agencies succeeded in establishing his identity.

Reporter: Ahmad Mansoor