Violent protest: Pak Colony at standstill as people take to streets against arrest of kin
Three vehicles torched after police crackdown; police had arrested 14 suspects on Thursday.
KARACHI:
At least three vehicles – one owned by a Pakistan Peoples Party leader – were torched on Friday by a mob protesting against the police in Pak Colony.
The police had arrested 14 suspects during a targeted raid in Pak Colony on Thursday night. The suspects’ relatives gathered near the Bara Board bus stop and staged a protest. They said that the police had assured the suspects’ families that they would be released after questioning, but only four people were released. The protesters set fire to tyres on the road, resulting in a massive traffic jam which lasted for up to two hours. They also pelted passing vehicles with stones and damaged several cars.
Extra contingents of law enforcers were called to control the protesters. But the mob turned violent when the police baton-charged them. A protester, identified as Majid, was allegedly shot twice in his chest as the law enforcers fired shots in the air. The injured man was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
The protesters set ablaze a passenger coach, a motorcycle and a Toyota double cabin truck owned by Ali Ahmed Shah, an office bearer of the ruling party.
Pak Colony SHO Abdul Moeed said the police had released the suspects found innocent while the others were being interrogated. He added that the police had also seized weapons from some suspects.
The police officer laid the blame of a protester getting injured on security guards of the Pakistan Peoples Party leader.
He said that the protester was not injured by the firing of the law enforcers, but was shot by the security guards of Ali Ahmed Shah, when the protesters torched his vehicle. “Or he may have been injured by the firing of his own people,” he added.
Moeed said that cases would also be registered against the violent protesters.
Grenade attack
A hand grenade attack near the NIPA Chowrangi
A man was injured and at least three vehicles were damaged as unidentified men hurled a hand grenade at the Chase departmental store near the NIPA Chowrangi on Friday night. The attack spread panic in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. .
A large number of Rangers and police personnel arrived at the spot after the attack to collect evidence. The Bomb Disposal Squad was also called in to check for more explosives.
District West DIG Shahid Hayat told The Express Tribune that two men on a motorcycle threw a hand grenade in the car park of the departmental store. He claimed that the police had information about the criminals as they had apprehended two of their accomplices a day before the incident. The police officer said that the attack was to threaten the departmental store’s administration over extortion and to pressure the police to release their colleagues.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2012.
At least three vehicles – one owned by a Pakistan Peoples Party leader – were torched on Friday by a mob protesting against the police in Pak Colony.
The police had arrested 14 suspects during a targeted raid in Pak Colony on Thursday night. The suspects’ relatives gathered near the Bara Board bus stop and staged a protest. They said that the police had assured the suspects’ families that they would be released after questioning, but only four people were released. The protesters set fire to tyres on the road, resulting in a massive traffic jam which lasted for up to two hours. They also pelted passing vehicles with stones and damaged several cars.
Extra contingents of law enforcers were called to control the protesters. But the mob turned violent when the police baton-charged them. A protester, identified as Majid, was allegedly shot twice in his chest as the law enforcers fired shots in the air. The injured man was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
The protesters set ablaze a passenger coach, a motorcycle and a Toyota double cabin truck owned by Ali Ahmed Shah, an office bearer of the ruling party.
Pak Colony SHO Abdul Moeed said the police had released the suspects found innocent while the others were being interrogated. He added that the police had also seized weapons from some suspects.
The police officer laid the blame of a protester getting injured on security guards of the Pakistan Peoples Party leader.
He said that the protester was not injured by the firing of the law enforcers, but was shot by the security guards of Ali Ahmed Shah, when the protesters torched his vehicle. “Or he may have been injured by the firing of his own people,” he added.
Moeed said that cases would also be registered against the violent protesters.
Grenade attack
A hand grenade attack near the NIPA Chowrangi
A man was injured and at least three vehicles were damaged as unidentified men hurled a hand grenade at the Chase departmental store near the NIPA Chowrangi on Friday night. The attack spread panic in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. .
A large number of Rangers and police personnel arrived at the spot after the attack to collect evidence. The Bomb Disposal Squad was also called in to check for more explosives.
District West DIG Shahid Hayat told The Express Tribune that two men on a motorcycle threw a hand grenade in the car park of the departmental store. He claimed that the police had information about the criminals as they had apprehended two of their accomplices a day before the incident. The police officer said that the attack was to threaten the departmental store’s administration over extortion and to pressure the police to release their colleagues.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2012.