Four Pakistan paramilitary forces gunned down in Karachi
Unidentified gunmen have shot dead four paramilitary forces guarding a mosque in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, officials say.
On Friday, unknown assailants on three motorcycles opened fire on four paramilitary soldiers outside the Abu Hurairah mosque in Ittehad Town, a western suburb of the city, which is a hub for pro-Taliban-linked militant groups.
According to Pakistani officials, one of the troopers was wounded the in the attack but later succumbed to his injuries.
Officials suggested that the attackers aimed to target the mosque during Friday prayers as some 500 people were inside and in a nearby religious school.
"Perhaps the mosque and the affiliated madrassa were the target of the terrorists," Rangers chief major general Bilal Akbar told media.
"We are carrying out investigation of the incident," he added, vowing that the attackers and the planners will be brought to justice.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also condemned the attack as “brutal terrorism”, but said that such incidents will strengthen the country’s resolve to fight terrorism.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pro-Taliban militants have been active in the area, which is home to numerous ethnic groups, carrying out several attacks in the past.
The assaults have claimed the lives of hundreds of people. According to reports, since January, 79 policemen have been killed in different parts of Karachi.
Pakistan’s army has intensified military operations against the militants since pro-Taliban elements killed over 150 people, most of them children, in an armed assault on a school in Peshawar in December 2014.
Pakistani officials say almost 3,000 pro-Taliban militants have been killed since the launch of the operation.
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