Family claims wrongful death in DHA police encounter

DHA police officers shot Zakarya Janjua, a resident of Lyari, for his alleged involvement in street crimes

KARACHI: The family of an alleged ‘street criminal’ killed in a police encounter in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority on Saturday disputed police claims and said the death was 'wrongful'.

"My grandson was studying in Malaysia and had returned to Karachi to spend time with his family during his holidays," the deceased's grandmother said while speaking to media representatives.



"He was not a criminal, the police associated him with the 'Lyari Gang' only because he was a resident of that area," she added.

DHA police officers gunned down Zakarya Janjua, a resident of Shah Beg Lines in Lyari, for his alleged involvement in street crimes.

Zakarya Janjua. PHOTO: EXPRESS

However, Janjua’s family denies he was involved in any crime. "Zakarya had gone out to withdraw money from the ATM when the incident occurred," the deceased's father, Yahya Janjua said. Zakarya had returned from Malaysia a week ago.



On Friday, DHA police claimed they shot dead one person and apprehended another during an encounter in the area saying the two had opened fire at police personnel.

However, following the family's claims Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Khan Sial while ordering investigation into Zakarya's killing, demanded additional inspector general police to submit a report of the incident that occurred in the vicinity of Gizri police station. “Justice will be delivered,” he said.