KARACHI: Law enforcement agencies in Karachi have foiled a suicide bombing attempt by rescuing a minor girl who was allegedly being radicalised online by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), officials said on Monday.
Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar disclosed the details while addressing a joint press conference alongside Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Additional Inspector General Azad Khan and Karachi Police Chief Javed Alam Odho. He said the girl was contacted through Instagram and other social media platforms, where militants gradually indoctrinated her with extremist propaganda.
“Terrorists reached out to the girl online, fed her fabricated stories, and systematically brainwashed her,” Lanjar said. He added that the child was being prepared to carry out a suicide attack before timely intervention by law enforcement agencies prevented the plot.
The home minister said militant groups rely heavily on false narratives to manipulate vulnerable individuals. “Terrorists spread lies through social media and push a distorted narrative against the state,” he said, urging parents to closely monitor their children’s online activity and digital interactions.
Lanjar revealed that the girl belonged to a normal family with no known links to militancy. He noted that she has two brothers, one of whom serves in the police, highlighting that extremist networks often target individuals regardless of their family background. He also reiterated that the state stands firmly with the Baloch people and rejects attempts to associate an entire community with terrorism.
CTD AIG Azad Khan said a BLA operative initially contacted the girl on Instagram before adding her to a WhatsApp group, where she was exposed to hateful content and anti-state material. “At first, she received extremist content, followed by continuous ideological grooming,” he explained.
Khan said the girl used social media like other children her age and showed no prior signs of radical tendencies. He added that as part of the plan, she was taken out of Karachi, but security forces intercepted her during snap checking outside the city.
“Due to her age, we do not consider her an accused,” Khan said, adding that authorities are not pursuing criminal proceedings against her. He confirmed that the family has been fully informed and will be provided security and support.
Officials said investigations are continuing to trace those involved in the online radicalisation network.
