Two women injured in crossfire

Fleeing suspect takes hostages on moving bus on Sunset Boulevard

KARACHI:

Two women were injured in cross firing between police and two fugitives who had taken a bus hostage on Sunset Boulevard near Defence Central Library.

Police officials claimed that when an attempt was made to arrest an accused, he got on a moving bus. Police squad mobile chased the bus and the suspect opened fire on the cops. Police, realising the risk of opening burst of bullets on bus full of passengers, tried to target only the suspect later identified as Hassan Ali.

However, they managed to overtake the bus and overpower Hassan Ali and shift him to the precinct.

It has yet to be ascertained if the women were injured by bullets fired by the police or the suspect.

According to reports, two women were injured in a firing incident inside a bus in front of the Central Library on Friday morning. They were shifted to Jinnah Hospital for medical treatment. The two women, 50-year-old Zar Pari wife Niaz Ali and 36-year-old Kulsoom wife Ghulam Habib, are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

According to SSP South Zubair Sheikh, police were engaged in a mobile snap check near the Central Library when two suspects were stopped and both tried to flee. One of the accused ran away and got on the bus. When police tried to arrest him, he opened fire. As a result, both women were injured. Police arrested the accused Hussain Ali and shifted him to the police station. Weapon was also recovered from him. The SSP said that the incident was being further investigated as both the women were shot by the policemen or injured by the accused.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2021.