Rouge robbers shoot pregnant woman

Victim, riding pillion with husband, had resisted handing over purse during snatching

KARACHI:

A young pregnant woman was fatally shot by robbers in District East after she resisted an attempted robbery on Friday.

According to Irfan, the husband of the victim identified as 26-year-old Saima, he and his wife were on their way to a doctor's appointment when two motorcycle-riding muggers intercepted them near Babar Kanta on Superhighway.

Irfan said he promptly handed over his wallet and mobile phone, but when the mugger reached for Saima's purse, she pulled it back as if by instinct. The heartless robber showing no mercy opened fire directly hitting her in the chest. "The robbers not only took my wife's life, they also killed our unborn child," he said sobbing, calling the act one of extreme brutality.

The couple, originally from Larkana, had two children - a nine-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter. Irfan, who works in a battery manufacturing factory, has demanded the immediate arrest of the perpetrators.

A spokesperson for the District East police stated that a Crime Scene Unit and a technical team are working to arrest those responsible.

The tragic incident adds to the growing toll of street crime-related killings in Karachi. In recent days, at least four people, including a Rangers official and a pregnant woman, have been murdered during robbery attempts in District East alone. So far this year, 27 people have lost their lives to armed robberies, with two fatalities recorded this month. Despite claims from senior police officials about a decline in street crimes, armed criminals continue to terrorise the city, injuring and killing innocent citizens with impunity.

Police put citizens' arrest in their account

Two suspected robbers were lynched by a mob during a chase in Quaidabad and later police claimed they were injured in an encounter.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday near Swedish College in the jurisdiction of Shah Latif police station.

Two suspects, riding a motorcycle, were fleeing after allegedly robbing citizens when a group of people began chasing them. Failing to apprehend the suspects, an unidentified man from the crowd opened fire, injuring both men.

Despite being wounded, the suspects continued their escape attempt and crossed over into the jurisdiction of Malir City police station. They eventually collapsed from their injuries and fell off the motorcycle. Malir police shifted them to JPMC via an Edhi ambulance.

Shortly afterward, in coordination with Shah Latif Police, Malir police officials reported the incident as a police-led encounter.