Violence continues: Two brothers associated with political party gunned down
The brothers were killed for showing resistance during a robbery, says police.
Police official collecting evidence. PHOTO: RASHID AJMERI/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Two brothers affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were shot dead in Islamia Colony of Orangi Town on Monday.
The Pirabad police have yet to ascertain why Muhammad Ibrahim, 40, and Muhammad Riaz, 35, were gunned down but the family members insisted they were targeted. The police said they believe the brothers were killed for showing resistance during a robbery.
The two brothers were in high-roof van on their way to their wholesale shop in Qasba Colony when three men on a motorcycle intercepted their van and opened fire. The armed assailants managed to escape later. The two victims were shot multiple times and died on the spot. They were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for autopsies. The police have also collected around half a dozen empty shells of 9mm and .30bore pistols from the crime scene. As soon as the family heard about the killings, several relatives, friends and PTI activists reached the hospital and staged a protest. “They were killed in a targeted attack,” insisted the victims’ brother, Haji Iqbal, who is also a provincial leader of the PTI. “The police have failed to protect the lives of the citizens.”
PTI leader Dawa Khan also demanded the arrest of the culprits. “Is pillion-riding banned only for the residents and not for the criminals?” he questioned. “The police are trying to save their face by changing the nature of the incident,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, Pirabad SHO Abdul Moid said that the police suspected that the incident occurred after the two men resisted an attempted robbery. This was not the first such incident, he recalled, adding that the victims’ house was robbed in 2004. Two suspects, Haroon and Azmat, were nominated in the relevant FIR.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 28th, 2014.
Two brothers affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were shot dead in Islamia Colony of Orangi Town on Monday.
The Pirabad police have yet to ascertain why Muhammad Ibrahim, 40, and Muhammad Riaz, 35, were gunned down but the family members insisted they were targeted. The police said they believe the brothers were killed for showing resistance during a robbery.
The two brothers were in high-roof van on their way to their wholesale shop in Qasba Colony when three men on a motorcycle intercepted their van and opened fire. The armed assailants managed to escape later. The two victims were shot multiple times and died on the spot. They were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for autopsies. The police have also collected around half a dozen empty shells of 9mm and .30bore pistols from the crime scene. As soon as the family heard about the killings, several relatives, friends and PTI activists reached the hospital and staged a protest. “They were killed in a targeted attack,” insisted the victims’ brother, Haji Iqbal, who is also a provincial leader of the PTI. “The police have failed to protect the lives of the citizens.”
PTI leader Dawa Khan also demanded the arrest of the culprits. “Is pillion-riding banned only for the residents and not for the criminals?” he questioned. “The police are trying to save their face by changing the nature of the incident,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, Pirabad SHO Abdul Moid said that the police suspected that the incident occurred after the two men resisted an attempted robbery. This was not the first such incident, he recalled, adding that the victims’ house was robbed in 2004. Two suspects, Haroon and Azmat, were nominated in the relevant FIR.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 28th, 2014.