Pakistan has witnessed a surge in extremist attacks targeting police and security forces in recent years.

An explosion took place in Pakistan’s Karachi on Saturday, after which heavy gunshots were heard around the Mosamiat Chowrangi area and armed service personnel cordoned the streets off.

An explosive-laden vehicle was rammed into the provincial headquarters of the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers, which triggered an intense exchange of gunfire with security forces.

At least four Sindh Rangers personnel were killed after a facility of the paramilitary force in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar was attacked.

After another blast, intense firing was reported near Meteorological Chowrangi on University Road.

Special units such as the Rapid Response Force and police commandos were dispatched to the scene according to Pakistan’s Dawn.

Pakistani forces shot dead six terrorists and took one alive after thwarting an attempted attack on a Sindh Rangers facility in Karachi.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), a brutal extremist splinter group of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has claimed responsibility for the attack on Sindh Rangers headquarters. The attacks were carried out by a suicide squad called Khulafa-e-Rashideen Ishtishhadi Brigade.

The Sindh chief minister said he had “taken notice of the reported sound of an explosion and the alleged firing”, adding he had called for a detailed report into the incident.

“Police should immediately reach the scene, determine the nature of the incident, and take all necessary measures,” Syed Murad Ali Shah said in a statement.

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in extremist attacks targeting police and security forces in recent years. Authorities have blamed the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, and allied extremist groups for most of the violence.