Prime suspect of journalist’s murder killed in 'encounter'

Police say suspect had criminal record

KARACHI:

The prime suspect of a journalist’s murder was killed in an alleged encounter early on Tuesday morning in the Qambar Shahdadkot district of northern Sindh which shares borders with Balochistan.

Karachi and Qambar Shahdadkot police, in a joint operation, killed the main accused involved in the murder of senior private TV producer Athar Mateen in an alleged encounter in the Qambar area, a senior police officer told the media on Tuesday.

The SSP said that Karachi West police and Qambar Shahdadkot police in a joint operation in Qambar tried to arrest Anwar Hasni Brohi, the prime suspect of Mateen’s murder. The accused opened fire on the police party and tried to escape. However, he was killed in the retaliatory firing by the police.

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Police officials said that the suspect was a habitual criminal with a criminal record and was nominated in 13 cases registered in different police stations of Karachi. Most of the cases were registered for theft of motorcycles and car-lifting in District Central and District West.

A high-level committee was set up to arrest the suspects involved in killing senior producer Athar Mateen, shot dead in North Nazimabad. A few days ago, one accused was arrested from Balochistan while the police were hunting for the main accused, Anwar Hussain Brohi.