World | Pakistan
Police arrest scores of militants after fierce clash in Karachi
Dozens of militants have been arrested in Karachi on Thursday following a fierce gunbattle that broke out after a police raid, officials said.
- Agencies
- Published: 11:30 January 15, 2009
Karachi: Dozens of militants have been arrested in Karachi on Thursday following a fierce gunbattle that broke out after a police raid, officials said.
Two policemen were killed and nine wounded before the militants' resistance was broken after several hours of shooting.
Pakistan is under tremendous international pressure to bring an end to extremist groups, in the wake of last November's attacks in Mumbai.
There were no immediate details of whether the militants had any affiliations with anti-India groups, but Karachi's police chief Waseem Ahmed said authorities were investigating links to pro-Taliban fighters in the lawless tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.
"We were getting reports for a long time that some jihadi elements were active in this area. Today, we raided the area and arrested many of them," Ahmed said.
News Editor's choice
-
Allies quit ruling coalition in Nepal
Political row could trigger months of street protests and violence
-
Qatar blaze 'started at nursery'
Fire killed 19 including 13 children, at Doha’s main shopping centre
-
Jagan jailed over illegal assets
Andhra Pradesh leader accused of corruption, cheating, conspiracy
