Four men gunned down, two policemen injured

KARACHI: At least four people were killed in targeted attacks in different parts of the city while two policemen were wounded in an exchange of fire on Tuesday.

Two friends were shot dead in Qasba Colony, Orangi Town within the limits of Pirabad police station. Their bodies were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where they were identified as Mirza Shaukat Baig, 20, son of Abdul Salam and 18-year-old Sheroz, son of Abdul Hameed.

Initial investigation suggests that Baig was in love with a girl and had gone over to her house to meet the family. SHO Haq Nawaz Baloch said that Baig went over to the girl’s house with his friend, Sheroz, where the family killed them. No case was registered till the filing of this report but the police claim that Baig’s family informed them that they would be nominating suspects in the dual murder case.

In an unrelated incident 45-year-old Nathu Lal, son of Jeo Lal, was gunned down in Patel Para within the limits of the Jamshed Quarters police station. Police officials said that the deceased used to work as a peon at the Qatar Hospital in Orangi Town. He was on his way home to Manghopir after visiting someone in Clifton when unidentified men opened at him. He died on the spot. The body was taken to Civil Hospital, Karachi. The police claim that the incident took place over resisting a robbery. Further investigation is being carried out.

Separately, 50-year-old Abdul Khaliq, son of Ghulam Qadir, was shot dead in a firing incident on the Lyari Expressway within the limits of the Soldier Bazaar police station. The police said that the motive and nature of killing has yet to be ascertained as the family of the victim took his body away with them without legal formalities.

A policeman, identified as Dilawar Khan, 42, was shot and injured in a firing incident near Nishtar Park. Soldier Bazaar police officials said that the victim is posted to the Security Zone police and was visiting a friend at his shop when unidentified men shot him over offering resistance in a robbery.

Another policeman identified as Abid Raza, 40, son of Hammad Raza Rizvi was shot and injured in firing within the limits of the Sharae Noor Jahan police station. The deceased was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment.

Encounters and arrests

Two suspected gang members were killed during separate encounters with the police and Rangers on Tuesday while another three alleged target killers belonging to a political party were arrested.

An alleged gang member was killed during an encounter with the police in Lyari. The encounter took place in Chakiwara when the police raided a hideout of the gangsters. During the shoot out, one gang member was killed while the others managed to escape. The body of the deceased was taken to Civil Hospital, Karachi. SSP Sheeraz Nazeer said that the deceased was identified as Shoaib. He added that the deceased was involved in several targeted killings, kidnappings and extortion cases.

Another alleged gang member was killed during an exchange of fire with the Rangers in Lyari. The accused was identified as Taj Muhammad alias Sunny. He was allegedly associated with the Jabbar Jhengu group and was wanted in several criminal cases.

Meanwhile, three members of a political party were arrested during separate raids in Landhi. They were identified as Sarfaraz alias Nikka, Wasim Khan and Shahid Wazir. According to the Rangers spokesperson, the suspects were involved in various target killing cases.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2014.