Three policemen martyred in Karachi gun attack

A passer-by child also killed while another critically injured as armed motorcyclists open fire

KARACHI: Three policemen were martyred on Friday in a gun attack that also left a minor boy dead and a teenager injured. Gunmen riding a motorcycle sprayed bullets on a police mobile van near Darul Uloom in the Korangi neighbourhood of the metropolis, officials said.

The attack left five people, three policemen and a 12-year-old boy, injured – four of them fatally. They were driven to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), where two policemen and the boy were pronounced dead on arrival, while the third policeman succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

The victims have been identified as ASI Qamaruddin and Constables Babar Ali Shah and Amjad, and 12-year-old Muhammad Zahid. The injured has been identified as 15-year-old Muhammad Abid, who is fighting for his life at the JPMC.

JPMC Executive Director Dr Seemin Jamali confirmed to The Express Tribune the death of three policemen and a passerby boy. She said all the victims had been shot multiple times in their upper torso from a close range.



Muhammad Farooq, the SHO of Awami Colony police station, refused to speculate on the motives. “We only know that armed motorcyclists targeted the police van patrolling the area,” he added.

“The slain policemen were not wearing protective gear,” SHO Faroooq said. “They had been provided with bulletproof vests, but unfortunately at the time of the attack they were not wearing the jackets.”

Investigators recovered bullet casings from the crime scene and sent for forensic analysis.

Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal and IG Allah Dino Khawaja directed senior police officials to trace and arrest the culprits.

This is the third major targeted attack on policemen in Karachi so far this year as earlier six policemen were martyred in the previous two attacks on police patrol vans in SITE and Bahadurabad areas.

Interestingly, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Ansarul Shariah Pakistan claimed responsibility for the previous two attacks. Investigators say the same groups could have carried out Friday’s attack.