At least seven militants who were planning to launch terror attacks in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi were killed today during a search operation by the paramilitary Rangers here.
The operation that began last night in the congested Orangi town and continued this morning saw heavy exchange of fire between the militants and paramilitary Rangers and recovery of huge amounts of weapons and ammunition.
The raid was aimed at capturing militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) after intelligence reports suggested they were planning to attack a security forces headquarters near the airport.
Rangers spokesperson Brig Mohammad Khurram told a media conference that seven militants of the TTP were killed including a suicide bomber who blew himself up after the operation started.
"There was exchange of heavy gunfire with the militants," Khurrum said.
The spokesman said the militants also attacked the security personnel with hand grenades.
He said the officials were also successful in seizing a large cache of weapons that included ammunition and explosive devices along with three IEDs, two SMGs, three 107mm rockets and 500 kilograms of metal nuts and bolts.
One Rangers official was injured during the search operation, he added.
"There were authentic intelligence reports that the terrorists were plotting to use the explosives to carry out a big terrorist attack in Karachi," he said.
The rangers and police have stepped up their operations in Pakistan's biggest city in recent months after the military started the Zarb-e-Azab offensive against foreign and local terrorists in the northern and tribal areas.
Law enforcement agencies believe that some of the militants have escaped the scene of the military operation and sought refuge in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and capital of the Sindh province.
