Frequent target: Another cop slain in line of duty

Incident is second targeted killing of policeman in three days in Karachi

KARACHI: Twenty-eight-year-old constable Munawar Jamal had a wife and a minor son. On Saturday, the young cop was on his way to work when he was shot dead by unidentified attackers.

Investigators believe that he was not killed randomly - the assassins killed him after ‘proper homework’. This was the second targeted killing of a policeman in just three days in Karachi as ASI Shahzad Akhtar was shot dead in Korangi on Thursday night. The police continue to remain unsuccessful in probing the series of targetted killings of law enforcers.

Jamal, son of Shahnawaz, had left his home in Kauser Niazi Colony in North Nazimabad and was near Ziauddin Hospital when he was attacked. He was shot multiple times and died before he could receive medical aid. The deceased had been posted to the New Karachi police station about three months ago after he was transferred from the crime branch.

Dead end?

CCTV footage of areas near the crime scene shows two armed men on a motorcycle opening indiscriminate fire at Jamal, who was also riding a motorcycle. Unfortunately, the footage does not help identify the attackers or the motorcycle due to low quality cameras. Police officials have also recovered the bullet casings of the pistol used in the killing and sent them for analysis.

“Jamal was shot at least five times from the back,” informed North Nazimabad DSP Naeem Khan. “He was just wearing his official shoes and uniform’s pants but not his police shirt.”

‘Soft targets’

Investigators believe the recent killings are unrelated.

“It has been confirmed that the killing of ASI Akhtar and Jamal have no links as Akhtar was likely killed in a robbery bid,” said Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) incharge Raja Omar Khattab.

Nevertheless, he said it seems the killings of Jamal and traffic police’s SI Muhammad Arshad, who was killed in September in North Nazimabad, are linked. Religious or militant elements are most likely behind such incidents as they are pursuing ‘soft’ targets, he claimed.

A case has been registered at the CTD against unidentified men on behalf of the state.

Meanwhile, Jamal’s funeral prayers were offered at the office of DIG West.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2016.