Islamabad, Jan 9 (IANS): A senior police official, along with two other policemen, was Thursday killed in an explosion targeting a convoy of police vehicles in Pakistan's port city of Karachi for which the Taliban claimed responsibility.

Additional Inspector General Iqbal Mehmood confirmed that Chaudhary Aslam Khan, superintendent of police of the crime investigation department (CID) was killed in the attack, which took place around 4.40 p.m. in Karachi near the Lyari Expressway, the Dawn reported.

At least two other policemen, including the driver in Aslam’s vehicle, were killed and several others injured in the attack.

The banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sajjad Mohmand, a spokesman for the militant group said Aslam was targeted for carrying out operations against the TTP. "Aslam was involved in killing Taliban prisoners in CID cells in Karachi and was on the top of our hit-list," he said.

The blast completely destroyed the bullet-proof car of the slain police officer.

This was not the first time that Aslam was targeted by the banned group. The slain officer was targeted at least three times earlier for his bold stand against Taliban militants.

"Chaudhry Aslam was a brave officer," said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. "We will not let the will of the nation be crushed by these cowardly acts by terrorists."