All 12 militants, who had launched the daring attack on the Jinnah Airport in Karachi at midnight, were gunned down and the Airport has been secured by the security personnel this morning. However, 14 people, including 11 members of the Airport Security Forces, too lost their lives in the operation.
No passengers were among the casualties. There has been no damage to the planes inside the Airport. One of the militants blew himself up when an armed security vehicle approached them. That resulted in casualties on this side.
Earlier at midnight yesterday, 12 armed militants laced with rockets, grenades and other ammunition, entered the old terminal used for Haj operations. As they started firing, the militants were confined to two areas and the Karachi Airport was evacuated immediately. The Army was called in without any delay.
The attackers holed up in Fokker building, which was surrounded by the military personnel. The gunbattle lasted throughout the night for several hours before the elimination of all terrorists. The airport will be cleared by mid-day, as the cleaning operation is going on now.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the incident and hailed the braveheart martyrs. His daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who is active in political affairs of Pakistan, has tweeted, “Heartfelt duas for those who laid down their lives and the bereaved families. U die so we can live! No words suffice”.
