Men wanted for murder killed

Police link deceased to four deaths in ambush

KHANEWAL/ SHEIKHUPURA:

 

Two proclaimed offenders in murder cases were killed in an encounter in the Farooqabad area of Sheikhupura, while their three accomplices escaped, according to Khanewal police.

Khanewal city police said they conducted a raid in the jurisdiction of Farooqabad Saddar police station after receiving an intelligence tip about the presence of the suspects.

The police said the suspects opened fire on the raiding team upon spotting it.

Officials claimed that two wanted men, Tahir Shah and Usman Arain, were killed by gunfire allegedly from their accomplices during the exchange of fire.

Faisal Mehdi, Azhar Ali and an unidentified accomplice reportedly escaped due in darkness. The police said efforts were under way to arrest the fleeing suspects.

According to investigators, the men killed in the encounter were wanted in murder cases and had allegedly shot dead four people travelling in a car two months ago.

A case had been registered against them under terrorism laws.

The case stems from an attack that took place on June 15, when Faisal Mehdi Shah and his accomplices allegedly opened fire on a car transporting four men to a court hearing in Khanewal.

The victims, Hidayatullah, Zakaullah, Majeedullah and Ismail Niazi were killed in the attack, after which the assailants had fled.

Khanewal police had constituted teams to trace the suspects, which conducting raids in various areas before receiving information about their presence at a farmhouse in the Thatta Bahadur Shah area of Farooqabad.

The police claimed that weapons had been seized from the deceased men.

Police sources alleged that the deceased and their accomplices were involved in a narcotics and illegal weapons network operating across Punjab and wanted in 11 murder cases.

Investigations into the incident were ongoing along with efforts to arrest the remaining suspects.

The police said the suspects had opened fire with sophisticated weapons and the exchange of gunfire had continued for more than an hour.