Nine Pakistani Taliban militants, including the Karachi chief of the banned outfit, were today killed in two separate encounters with security forces here.
The militants were killed in clashes with paramilitary rangers in Karachi's in Kaemari and Sohrab Goth areas.
Five militants of the Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP), including the Karachi chapter head of the Ilyas Kashmiri faction, were killed in a clash in the morning in Kaemari, while four others were shot dead during another clash in Ali Muhammad Goth near Sohrab Goth later in the day, an official spokesman said.
According to rangers, those killed in Kaemari were responsible for the 2014 suicide attack on Rangers' sector commander, target killing and bank heists.
The spokesman said the clash in Sohrab Goth area took place with a group of militants affiliated to TTP chief Maulana Fazalullah.
One of those killed was identified as Qari Zubair -- an expert in explosives and bomb-making.
Acting on a tip-off, the security forces carried out a raid at a house in the area where Zubair had taken refuge, said senior superintendent of police Rao Anwar.
"Zubair was injured in a drone attack in Shawal valley of North Waziristan and was brought to Karachi for treatment," he said.
"He was also involved in killing of security personnel," he said.
During the encounter in Kaemari, two rangers were also injured.
