Timely intelligence action prevents major terror incident in Karachi, officials say
Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in Karachi have thwarted an alleged attempt by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) to radicalise and groom a minor girl for a suicide attack using social media platforms, officials confirmed on Monday, describing the operation as a critical success that averted a potential tragedy.
The development was disclosed during a joint press conference in Karachi by Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Additional Inspector General Azad Khan, and Karachi Police Chief Javed Alam Odho.
Radicalisation through social media
According to authorities, the minor was first contacted by BLA operatives through Instagram, after which she was gradually indoctrinated with extremist material and added to encrypted messaging groups on WhatsApp.
“Terrorists approached the child online, fed her fabricated stories, and systematically brainwashed her,” Lanjar said, adding that the girl was being prepared to act as a suicide bomber before security agencies intervened.
He warned that militant propaganda thrives on misinformation and urged parents to closely monitor their children’s online activity. Lanjar also noted that the girl belonged to a family with no militant background and that one of her brothers serves in the police.
“The state stands firmly with the Baloch people,” the home minister said, stressing that militant groups were exploiting digital platforms to spread false narratives against Pakistan.
Rescue operation and protection
CTD AIG Azad Khan said the child used social media like any other teenager and was initially exposed to hate-filled and anti-state content before being subjected to sustained ideological conditioning.
As part of the plot, the girl was moved out of Karachi but was intercepted during snap checking outside the city. “Due to her age, she is not being treated as an accused, and the matter is not being taken into the criminal justice system,” Khan clarified.
He added that the family had been fully informed and would be provided protection, underscoring that the focus remained on rehabilitation rather than prosecution.
Federal response and warnings
Federal Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said the banned BLA was increasingly using social media to radicalise individuals, noting that swift action by security agencies had prevented a potentially devastating incident in Karachi.
“Extremists first approach people as sympathisers and then carry out ideological indoctrination,” Tarar told Geo News. “Timely action saved Karachi from devastation.”
Tarar alleged that the group’s broader objective was to destabilise the country and claimed it supported anti-state elements to advance that agenda.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry echoed the concerns, warning that militant outfits were shifting tactics from conventional weapons to digital platforms. “Terrorists are now using social media instead of guns,” he said.
Chaudhry urged social media companies to block extremist content and cooperate with authorities by sharing relevant account information. “This is not about freedom of expression; it is about protecting lives,” he added.
