Alleged car-lifter killed in shootout

In separate incident, motorcyclist died in road accident

ATTOCK:

An alleged car-lifter was killed while another was injured during a shootout with police on Islamabad-Peshawar motorway (M-1) near Chach interchange in limits of Hazro Police station on Saturday.

According to Attock police official Tahir Iqbal, on getting information about theft of a car from Hassanbadal, police altered the entry point of motorway. He said that the car spotted near Burhan interchange and police officials deputed there intercepted the car but the occupants opened fire on the cops deployed at the picket and spade away on motorway.

He added that subsequently, Hazro police was alerted as the car occupants tried from Chach interchange, Hazro police intercepted them. However, on seeing the police party, the suspects opened indiscriminate fire at the police party, which was subsequently retaliated.

Police said that during the cross firing, an alleged car-lifter, identified as Mohammad Sajid, died while another identified as Asif Khan was injured, however, their third companion identified as Asghar Khan fled away.

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The dead and injured were shifted to THQ hospital Hazro. Police said that all the accused belong to Chakdarra area of Lower Dir. Police registered a case against the accused under section 302, 324, 353, 186 and 34 Pakistan Penal code (PPC) and launched haunt to arrest the fled accused.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Saturday condemned the incident of alleged police firing on a moving vehicle at Hazro, district Attock (Punjab) and took notice of the issue.

The chief minister has decided to take up the matter with chief minister of Punjab, said an official news release issued on Saturday. In the incident, a resident of Chakdara, Dir Lower, died while another was injured.

Khan while condemning the act of Attock Police in strong words has termed the incident unlawful. He said that the incident would be investigated impartially and independently from all aspects to bring those involved in the incident before law.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2021.