Pakistan arrests terrorists behind Shia massacre in Karachi

Pakistani security forces have detained a suspected mastermind and several gunmen who allegedly massacred nearly 50 Ismaili Shia Muslims in the southern port city of Karachi in mid-May.

Pakistani Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan made the announcement in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The minister added that some of the men have confessed to taking part in the deadly attack against the Ismailis in Karachi, the capital city of Sindh Province.

Meanwhile, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, the chief minister of Sindh, has said that the arrestees are expert in preaching terrorism to people, brainwashing them and providing training to carry out terrorist activities.

He also added that law enforcement agencies have confiscated a large cache of weapons from the possession of terrorists.

On May 13, at least 47 people were killed and several others wounded after armed men stormed a bus carrying Ismaili pilgrims in Pakistan’s largest city. A group of around eight pistol-wielding assailants stopped the bus and opened indiscriminate fire on passengers.

The attack was claimed by the pro-Taliban Jundullah terrorists, which had previously allied itself to the Takfiri ISIL terrorists.

Muslims in Pakistan say the government must take decisive action against the forces involved in the targeting of Shias. They also accuse Islamabad of failing to provide security for the Muslim community.

The country’s Shia leaders have called on the government to form a judicial commission to investigate the bloodshed.

The killing of Shias has caused an international outrage, with rights groups and regional countries expressing concern over the ongoing deadly violence.