Mistaken identity?: Ranger arrested for allegedly killing taxi driver

The driver was shot at when he refused to stop the taxi on the Ranger's insistence.


Web Desk July 16, 2013
The accused Ranger was identified as Ghulam Hyder and was arrested. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

KARACHI: A Ranger opened fire on a taxi near the Gulistan-e-Johar area of Karachi on Tuesday afternoon, killing the driver, Express News reported.

"The driver was shot at when he refused to stop the taxi on the Ranger's insistence," reported Express News correspondent Nadeem Ahmed. According to initial reports, the taxi was directed to stop for snap checking, and when the vehicle did not pull over, it was shot at.

Police reports suggest that a case against the Ranger, who was identified as Ghulam Hyder, is being registered.

Hyder was arrested soon after the incident.

"The taxi driver was not alone. There was a child with him as well but it's not clear yet if the Ranger was aware of the child's presence," said Ahmed.

The dead body of the taxi driver, who was identified as Mureed has been shifted to a hospital.

Police officials said that the victim was not a criminal.

Later, a Rangers spokesperson claimed that the vehicle was fired upon after it refused to stop on their instructions.

"Security checks on civilians were increased when Rangers were targeted by terrorists early morning, severely injuring two officials," the Ranger's spokesperson in a statement distributed through SMS.

"Ranger officials also caught a suspicious person carrying weapons who wanted to carry out an operation against them," the spokesperson said.

"When the Rangers tried to stop a taxi passing by Kamran Chowrangi later in the day, the driver swiftly reversed which prompted the personnel to open fire," the message added.

The spokesperson said that the driver was rushed to the hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries.

The DG Rangers has taken strict notice of the incident and demoted Squad Commander and Company Commander.

"An inquiry into the incident has been launched and the accused will be dealt with according to the law."

COMMENTS (17)

Afaq | 10 years ago | Reply

Rangers, Please go back from Karachi as people don't deserve security in the city.

gulabjamun | 10 years ago | Reply

This is gross incompetence on part of the rangers. I cant imagine what that 4 year old went through. A 4 year old's mind is so innocent, their world consists of playing imaginary games and talking with their daddy. Having to lose their father in front of them like this is so painful to imagine.

The rangers morale is very down. Previously when there was violence in the city, the rangers were spared, but nowadays there are attacks on rangers everyday. Just yesterday two rangers were shot during a robbery because the robbers thought the rangers were there to stop them when in fact they were just passing through after buying food for iftari.

That said, there needs to be a serious re-organisation and re-assessment of the rangers. And those who did this need to answer for their crimes. This kind of incompetence is not expected of them, even soldiers serving in fata in extremely stressful conditions don't make mistakes like this.

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