A senior Pakistani police officer, who had survived several attacks for his anti-militant campaigns, and three others were killed in a suicide bombing in Karachi on Thursday.
Over 10 people were injured in the explosion that took place at a shop located next to police official Shafiq Tanoli’s residence near the wholesale vegetable market.
A local senior police official confirmed that it was suicide attack. “The bomber came walking in the shop and blew himself up,” he added.
Police official Imran Shaukat said there were at least five persons in the shop at the time of the blast, which targeted Mr. Tanoli.
Another police official Pir Mohammad Shah said Mr. Tanoli, who survived several attempts on his life in the past, was targeted for his active campaigning against terrorists.
Few months back, unidentified assailants had detonated a car bomb near Mr. Tanoli’s residence but he survived the attack.
Although Mr. Shaukat said Mr. Tanoli was on the hit list of militant outfits due to his operations against terrorists, other sources said Mr. Tanoli was suspended and demoted a few days back for an illegal raid.
“There were several cases and complaints pending against him even though he was on duty,” one source said.
Mr. Tanoli’s brother Rasheed told Geo News that the other casualties included his uncle and a cousin in the blast.
Nobody has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
