Schoolgirl prepared for suicide bombing in Karachi rescued: Zia Lanjar
KARACHI: Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar on Monday announced that security agencies have rescued a school-aged girl who was allegedly being groomed for a suicide bombing in Karachi by banned militant organisations.
Addressing a press conference alongside senior Sindh Police officials, Lanjar said the girl, originally from Balochistan, had been radicalised through online propaganda circulated by proscribed outfits, including the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF).
He stated that security agencies identified the threat in time, established contact with the girl through social media, and successfully intervened, preventing what could have been a major tragedy in the city.
Lanjar warned that banned militant groups are increasingly targeting women and underage girls, describing the practice as a form of child exploitation rather than any legitimate political resistance.
“Pushing young girls towards death is not resistance; it is terrorism and the exploitation of children,” he said.
According to the home minister, anti-state elements deliberately indoctrinate teenage boys and girls by manipulating them through hate-driven content and false narratives online. He added that the girl’s identity is being kept strictly confidential and that the state is committed to ensuring her protection, dignity, and future.
Girl recounts online radicalisation
Speaking during the briefing, the rescued girl described how she was exposed to extremist content on social media, which was repeatedly shared with her until it began to feel normal.
She said the individuals contacting her gradually increased communication, sending links and speeches that reinforced a false narrative. Over time, she began to believe that sacrificing one’s life was a noble cause.
The girl explained that her vulnerability was exploited after recruiters learned that her father was not present, using sympathy as a tool to draw her deeper into radicalisation. She added that WhatsApp groups portrayed violent activities of banned organisations as acts of bravery.
As the indoctrination intensified, she said her education suffered and she began making excuses to leave home. She recalled feeling extreme anxiety when questioned at a security checkpoint, which later made her realise the gravity of the situation.
“I am Baloch, and our traditions teach respect and dignity for women,” she said, stressing that using women and girls for violence is not part of Baloch culture.
She warned other young people to remain vigilant, saying that those who recruit individuals in the name of ‘sacrifice’ are not helpers, but predators.
