Gunmen killed four policemen Wednesday in southern Pakistan, a day after the army said it had arrested a senior member of the Pakistani Taliban and foiled a plot to attack Independence Day celebrations later this week.
The police were attacked as they ate at a roadside restaurant in the port city of Karachi, police officer Naeem Sheikh said. Islamic militants and other armed groups have carried out attacks in the past in Karachi, a city of 20 million people which is also Pakistan's main business hub. No one claimed responsibility for Wednesday's attack.
The Muttahida Qaumi Party, which has long dominated local politics in Karachi, quit the national parliament Wednesday to protest against a military crackdown in the city, saying its members were unfairly targeted.
Party chief Altaf Hussain said the army should immediately stop its "discriminatory" action against his party workers. Hussain had harshly criticized the military last month, prompting the government to initiate criminal proceedings against him and contact authorities in London, where he lives in self-imposed exile.
The killing of the police came a day after the army said it had foiled a militant plot to attack Independence Day celebrations on Friday. The army said it had acted on a tip-off from intelligence agencies and carried out a raid in Karachi as part of the operation. It also said it had seized an explosives-laden vehicle.
The army said it captured Bakhat Zaman, the deputy chief of the Pakistani Taliban, and other militants. It said the militants were "foreign-sponsored," without elaborating.
Pakistan won independence from Britain on Aug. 14, 1947. Pakistanis mark the day each year with rallies and other celebrations.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Gunmen Kill 4 Police in Southern Pakistan
Gunmen killed four policemen Wednesday in southern Pakistan, a day after the army said it had arrested a senior member of the Pakistani Taliban and foiled a plot to attack Independence Day celebrations later this week.
The police were attacked as they ate at a roadside restaurant in the port city of Karachi, police officer Naeem Sheikh said. Islamic militants and other armed groups have carried out attacks in the past in Karachi, a city of 20 million people which is also Pakistan's main business hub. No one claimed responsibility for Wednesday's attack.
The Muttahida Qaumi Party, which has long dominated local politics in Karachi, quit the national parliament Wednesday to protest against a military crackdown in the city, saying its members were unfairly targeted.
Party chief Altaf Hussain said the army should immediately stop its "discriminatory" action against his party workers. Hussain had harshly criticized the military last month, prompting the government to initiate criminal proceedings against him and contact authorities in London, where he lives in self-imposed exile.
The killing of the police came a day after the army said it had foiled a militant plot to attack Independence Day celebrations on Friday. The army said it had acted on a tip-off from intelligence agencies and carried out a raid in Karachi as part of the operation. It also said it had seized an explosives-laden vehicle.
The army said it captured Bakhat Zaman, the deputy chief of the Pakistani Taliban, and other militants. It said the militants were "foreign-sponsored," without elaborating.
Pakistan won independence from Britain on Aug. 14, 1947. Pakistanis mark the day each year with rallies and other celebrations.
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