PHOTO: EXPRESS
The attacks occurred two days after a sub-inspector was shot dead on Rashid Minhas Road.
Investigators suspect, however, that the same group is behind both the incidents.
Karachi has witnessed a fresh wave of terrorism. Investigators speculate that militant organisations, which went underground during the Karachi operation, are once again attempting to resurface.
The first incident occurred when armed motorcyclists lobbed a hand grenade inside Taimuria police station at 8am, in which a police constable Muhammad Iqbal, was injured and the outer wall of the police station was damaged.
About seven minutes later, another incident occurred in which a rickshaw driver, Ali Imran, 25, a resident of Surjani Town, was shot dead and a traffic police cop Muhammad Bashir wounded when armed motorcyclists opened indiscriminate fire on traffic cops near Five Star Chowrangi. However, the armed assailants fled after the traffic cops retaliated.
“Same gunmen were behind both incidents,” claimed Central and West police chief DIG Zulfiqar Larik.
“One of the suspects had covered his face with cloth and it is being investigated if the other suspect was wearing a helmet or not, as different accounts reveal conflicting details,” he said.
After attacking the police station, the armed motorcyclists attacked three traffic police officials near Five Star Chowrangi.
Sindh IG AD Khawaja ordered West DIG to present a report after conducting a detailed inquiry. “The investigations of these incidents should be on the basis of evidence gathered from the crime scenes, witnesses’ statements among other to ensure that the assailants are punished,” he ordered.
The cases were registered at the Counter-Terrorism Department on behalf of state against unidentified persons.
Resurgence in attacks
Attacks on law enforcers have become more frequent particularly after the reshuffle in military.
On Wednesday night, a police’s sub-inspector Iqbal Mehmood of the Ferozabad’s investigation wing was shot dead and three others including his friend were wounded when armed motorcyclists attacked him on Rashid Minhas Road.
Also, Traffic DSP Faiz Shigri was killed in a targeted attack in Gulistan-e-Jauhar on November 27. Besides the targeted attacks, the two fake bombs were also recovered by the police about a couple of days ago from the District West of the city.
No progress
Even though the targeted attacks on law enforcers seem to be on a rise, regardless of the three-year long operation in which the police and Rangers claimed to have busted several gangs belonging to militant, sectarian and political organisations, investigators failed to trace those responsible for the current wave of attacks.
“This could be a retaliation of the ongoing Karachi operation in which many criminals were killed and arrested by the police and Rangers,” said a senior police official, requesting anonymity. “They [terrorists and criminals] are now trying to make their existence felt by engaging in terror activities and selecting soft targets.”
According to police officers, the recent cases are being investigated from different angles.
“[It is a] challenging situation for us,” said DSP Nasir Bukhari. It cannot even be determined for sure if the same group is orchestrating the current wave of terrorism or not, he added.
The officer said that it seems that DSP Shigri’s killing could be a sectarian attack, sub-inspector Mehmood was perhaps killed because he was dealing with high-profile cases while law enforcers have yet to reach a conclusion regarding attacks in North Nazimabad.
The police said that they have started recording the statements of the witnesses and collecting evidences to probe any links between the recent attacks.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2017.
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