KARACHI: Pakistani authorities have arrested a woman among three suspects involved in a deadly suicide bombing in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi that killed two Chinese and a Pakistani national last month, an official said on Monday.
The bombing, which also injured 21 others, in the provincial capital of Sindh was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the most prominent of separatist groups mainly operating in the neighboring Balochistan province.
Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, is home to major China-led projects such as a strategic port and a gold and copper mine. The separatists accuse Beijing of helping Islamabad exploit the province’s mineral resources, an allegation denied by the Pakistani state.
Speaking to media in Karachi, Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar said officials had found body parts of the suicide bomber, later identified through fingerprint analysis as Shah Fahad, at the scene. The BLA had also identified Fahad as the attacker.
“A high-level investigation involving law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and intelligence services was launched immediately after the attack,” he said, adding forensic teams conducted a thorough examination of the scene and collected critical evidence.
“Last night, during an intelligence-based operation, the mastermind of the suicide bombing, Muhammad Javed alias Sameer, and his accomplice Gul Nisa were arrested at RCD Highway near Umar Goth Chowk in Karachi while riding a motorcycle.”
Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar (right) is addressing a press conference in Karachi, Pakistan, on November 11, 2024. (Sindh Home Department)
The investigation revealed Javed’s direct involvement in the suicide bombing, while the woman, Nisa, had facilitated the attack, according to the home minister. Another suspect, a rickshaw driver, had also been apprehended.
China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan that has pledged over $65 billion in investment in road, infrastructure and development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, at the heart of which lies the Gwadar port in Balochistan.
Pakistan has previously said the attack in Karachi was aimed at disrupting its relations with China and destabilizing CPEC. The BLA has previously killed Chinese citizens working in the region and attacked Beijing’s consulate in Karachi.
Authorities discovered that the vehicle used in the Karachi airport bombing was purchased in September 2024 for Rs7.1 million in cash from a showroom in Karachi, according to Lanjar. It was taken to Hub in Balochistan, where the attackers mounted explosives on it and brought back to Karachi days before the attack.
“Since the transaction was made through legal channels, it did not initially raise suspicion,” Lanjar said, adding that the payment was made through a bank account in the name of a man, Saeed Ali, who was facilitated by Bilal.
The vehicle was later registered under Fahad’s name, while Nisa helped bring the car to Karachi and surveillance at the airport was carried out by Javed, who also informed the suicide attacker about the Chinese nationals’ exit from the airport, according to investigators.
Fahad arrived in Karachi along with Nisa on October 4 and stayed at a hotel in Saddar before executing the attack on the night of Oct 6.
“Investigators found that the bomber and his accomplices made preparations at various locations, including the Marriott Hotel, where they recorded a video,” Lanjar said.
“The video was sent to their BLA commander before the bombing took place. At around 9:30 p.m. on October 6, the group circled the airport before positioning the explosives-laden vehicle near the Chinese convoy.”
Lanjar said the attackers used up to 40 kilograms of a chemical substance to detonate the vehicle used in the attack, which has raised concerns about the safety of Chinese nationals and investments in Pakistan as well as the growing threat posed by separatist groups. The Karachi attack also prompted the Chinese side to publicly ask Pakistan to ensure security of its nationals, while a team of Chinese officials also joined investigations of the Oct. 6 attack.
In a separate development on Monday, Lt. Gen. Muhammad Avais Dastgir, chief of general staff of Pakistan Army, met with Gen. Li Qiaoming, commander of the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force, at the PLA Army Headquarters in Beijing, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
“During the meeting, CGS offered heartfelt condolences on loss of Chinese lives in recent terrorist attack in Karachi and affirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to ensure enhanced security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan,” the ISPR said in a statement.
“The dignitary from China acknowledged Pakistan Army’s efforts and measures for improving the security of Chinese and assured wholehearted support to Pakistan.”
Chinese workers have increasingly come under attack in Pakistan in recent years, with notable incidents including a suicide bombing in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that killed five Chinese engineers in March 2024. The latest shooting occurred earlier this month, when a Pakistani security guard opened fire at a factory in Karachi, wounding two Chinese employees.
