Cop shot dead by ‘street criminals’

Had left his bullet proof vest in a rush to respond to a distress call

KARACHI:

An official of the Shaheen Force, Nihal Ziaul Haq, 40, was shot dead by robbers in the Bara Board area within the limits of Pak Colony police station on Wednesday.

Baldia Town SP Faizan Ali told The Express Tribune that a bike-mounted team of Shaheen Force was on patrol in the area. Nihal and his colleague were having lunch at a roadside eatery when citizens informed them that four armed suspects on two motorcycles were fleeing after looting and killing a citizen near Pak Colony Bara Board.

Nihal and his partner started chasing the armed robbers. Nihal was driving the bike and his partner was holding the weapon.

However, as the Shaheen Force team approached the fleeing suspects, they opened fire hitting Nihal in the chest.

SP Faizan said it later transpired that Nihal, in rush to respond to the distress call had left his bullet proof vest at the table of the roadside restaurant.

Karachi police chief AIG Javed Alam Odho paid tribute to Nihal.

SHO Pak Colony Muhammad Ashfaq and Head Muharrar Gulfraz said that the citizen killed by the suspects was identified as Shakeel Ahmed Khan, a shuttering contractor, said to be a resident of the Golimar area.

Shakeel had withdrawn Rs400,000 from a bank in the Gulbahar area when the four suspects started chasing him and snatched the money near Bara Board and shot him on putting up resistance. Shakeel was rushed to nearest hospital, where the doctor confirmed his death.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2022.