Security operation in Karachi under way - twenty killed in the city

 At least 12 people were gunned down in various violent incidents in different areas of the port city of Karachi in Pakistan only on Friday.

 Three days ago, the most senior judge of Sindh High Court, Syed Maqbool Baqer’s convoy was attacked by armed men. During the attack, at least nine people including five body guards were killed and several among whom the judge were injured.

A heavy contingent of Para-military forces carried out a major search operation at the Karachi Central Jail on Saturday; three days after the senior judge became a target. 

Prison officials told media that a large number of mobile phones, laptops and internet devices had been recovered from prison cells during the operation.

 “Officials believe the attack on Justice Baqar’s convoy was planned and carried out from inside the prison cells with the help of mobile devices,” said a senior prison official, requesting not to be named since he was not authorized to speak to the media.

 The Rangers force also found a cellular device which they believe was used directly in the attack on Sindh High Court judge Justice Maqbool Baqar.

 The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming Justice Baqar, a member of the Shia Muslim community, was targeted due to his “anti-Taliban and anti-Mujahideen decisions”.

 The jurist has served as the administrative judge of the anti-terrorism courts in Karachi and initially heard terrorism cases in this capacity.

 The judge was also believed to be on Lashkar-i-Jhangvi’s hit list when a suspect arrested in Karachi last year told police that Maqbool Baqar was among his intended targets.

Pakistani Taliban and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi terrorists operating in Karachi are believed to have combined terrorist forces to carry out attacks on high-profile targets in the city.