Suspected gangster killed in encounter with CTD

The encounter took place in the early hours of Sunday

KARACHI: A suspected member of a Lyari-based gang was killed during an alleged encounter with the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Sindh police in District West of Karachi in the early hours of Sunday.

CTD incharge Mazhar Mashwani said that the encounter took place when the CTD, following intelligence-based reports, conducted a raid at a hideout located near Naurus Chowrangi in the SITE area. The gangster opened fire at the police instead of surrendering himself and was injured when the police returned the fire, the officer said, adding that the injured died on the way to hospital. He was later identified as Sohail alias DC, an active member of the Lyari gang war who was wanted to police in various cases of crime. The CTD officials also claimed to have recovered a hand grenade and pistol from his possession.



Later in the afternoon, the CTD officials held a press conference and informed the media that the killed gangster was involved in several cases of target killing and kidnapping. "Sohail DC was a resident of Liaquatabad who first joined the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in 2007," said CTD SSP Omar Shahid Hamid, adding that he left the MQM over differences with the party and started working with the Uzair Baloch gang.

It was further stated during the press conference that the suspect was involved in the kidnapping-cum-killing of Lyari's notorious gangster Arshad Pappu, his brother and friend. He had also played a key role in the ethnic violence of 2012 between Baloch and Urdu-speaking communities in surroundings of Lyari. Moreover, he was also involved in attacks on law enforcers. A case has been registered and further investigations are under way.