Sindh minister says minor girl radicalized via social media arrested before being used in attack
KARACHI:
Sindh officials said on Monday that a major terrorist attack had been averted after police intercepted a minor girl who had been recruited through social media and was being transferred to Karachi for a potential attack.
The disclosure was made by Sindh Interior Minister Zia Lanjar at an emergency press conference in Karachi, alongside CTD Additional Inspector General Azad Khan and Karachi Police Chief Javed Alam Odho.
Lanjar said police arrested the girl on December 25 while she was traveling in public transport from Balochistan to Karachi. The officers became suspicious due to her behavior and questioned her about her identity, but her answers were unsatisfactory, prompting a female officer to investigate further.
Interrogation revealed that the girl, a student from Balochistan whose identity was kept secret, had been radicalized online by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and was on her way to meet operatives linked to the banned militant group.
According to police, the girl said she was first contacted through her Instagram account, where individuals began sharing content about the separation of Balochistan and alleged oppression in the province. She was later added to a WhatsApp group that spread anti-state and anti-military material and glorified Baloch separatist figures, including Shari Baloch.
Read: Terrorist triangle: Taliban, TTP, BLA
Speaking in a video recorded at the press conference, the girl said she gradually came to believe the stories shared in the WhatsApp group. She said it influenced her thinking, turned her against the state and caused her to lose interest in her studies, family and friends.
Police said the girl then left her home without informing her family and met a woman affiliated with the banned Baloch Liberation Army. Officials said the woman had further indoctrinated her and was preparing to hand her over to a handler in Karachi, who allegedly used her in a terrorist act or suicide attack.
Authorities said the girl’s quick identification and questioning helped avert a potential disaster.
CTD AIG Azad Khan urged parents to closely monitor their children’s online activity, warning that militant groups were deliberately targeting minors due to their vulnerability and immaturity.
Police said no legal action would be taken against the girl and she remained in protective custody. His identity will not be disclosed.
Interior Minister Lanjar said the girl was not being treated as an accused.
“Due to her young age, she was misled,” he explained. “We’re giving him a chance to reform.”
Officials said this case highlights how militant groups are increasingly using social media platforms to recruit and radicalize minor children, posing serious security risks.
