EIGHT TERRORISTS KILLED IN KARACHI

ISLAMABAD: Eight militants belonging to the Ansarul Shariah group, a newly emerged terror outfit, were killed during a raid by the Pakistan Rangers and the Counter Terrorism Department in Karachi, officials have said. Among those killed in the Thursday night raid was Sheharyar alias Dr Abdullah Hashmi, the head of the militant outfit. The Ansarul Shariah group has been involved in multiple terrorism incidents in Karachi and Mastung, according to security officials. Police officials believe the group is behind several attacks on police officials in Karachi in the past few months and an IED blast targeting security forces in Mastung. Police say the outfit initially operated under Islamic State’s umbrella. However, differences led to the parting of the ways. Currently, it is said to be influenced by al-Qaeda.