Traffic police official martyred in Karachi gun attack

Unidentified men open fire at traffic police official


Hafeez Tunio October 03, 2018
Representational image. PHOTO: REUTERS

KARACHI: After a brief hiatus, police personnel in Karachi seem to be on the target again as another traffic police official was shot dead in broad daylight on Wednesday. The incident occurred at the intersection between Ahsanabad and Surjani Town, where the victim was on duty at a police check post.

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The slain official, identified as 55-year-old Muhammad Rafique Panhwar, was posted to the Gulzar-e-Hijri Traffic Section and was on patrol duty when unidentified assailants on a motorcycle opened fire at him, before speeding off.  The victim was shot at least 15 times and died on the spot. Police claimed to have recovered at least 18 bullet casings of a 9mm pistol from the scene. The victim's body was later transported to his native town, Naushero Feroze for burial.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, SSP Shiraz Nazir confirmed that the on-duty sub-inspector was attacked by two gunmen on a motorcycle. “The attackers fled after shooting the police official,” said the SSP.

Taking notice of the incident IG Syed Kaleem Imam sought a detailed report from DIG East Zone Amir Farooqi and DIG Traffic Ahmed Ishaque Jehangir. He also directed SSP Malir to use evidence from crime scene and witness testimonies to apprehend the suspects.

Last year, Karachi witnessed consecutive attacks on police. The attacks, claimed by Ansarul Sharia Pakistan (ASP), included killings of four policemen in SITE area, Traffic DSP Hanif Khan and his gunman in Azizabad, an attack on police officers in Northern Bypass - during which a volunteer was killed and another critically wounded, an attack on a police mobile van in Dhoraji area which two cops were martured and one was wounded; and an attack on police officers at Sharae Faisal.

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All of the attacks on Sindh Police were claimed by the proscribed outfit, Ansarul Sharia Pakistan. The victims included one deputy superintendent, one sub-inspector, three assistant sub-inspectors, four head constables and 15 constables.

The worst months were July and August of last year when 10 police officials were killed in targeted attacks. Forensic analysis of the evidence gleaned from the crime scenes confirmed that the same group was behind all the attacks.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2018.

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