ANP claims their worker was killed in a ‘fake’ encounter by the police. PHOTO: FILE
A suspect associated with the Lyari gang war, an alleged target killer and a worker of the Awami National Party were killed in separate encounters with the police on Saturday.
The police claimed to have killed a suspect in an alleged encounter, in which two others were wounded, near Sohrab Goth within the limits of Sacchal police station. The deceased was later identified as Shah Kalam Mehsud.
The Awami National Party claimed his affiliation and said that the deceased was a worker of the Pakhtun Student Federation (PkSF). Speaking to The Express Tribune, ANP leader Bashir Jan criticised the ongoing operation in Karachi. “We are unable to understand what is happening — at one side our men are being targeted by armed groups while on the other, the police are doing the same.”
Mehsud had completed his MBA from Federal Urdu University and was serving as PkSF president for district East. A protest was also staged by his family and the PkSF on the Super Highway. “The police arrived at Mehsud’s house in at least half- a-dozen vans and whisked him away. Five minutes later, they shot and killed him on the Super Highway in a fake encounter and declared him a criminal,” said PkSF president Raza Jadoon. “The police also looted valuables from his house.”
Sacchal SHO Shaukat Raza was unavailable for comment. DSP Khalid Khan was, however, unaware of the incident. “I do not know how it actually happened,” he said. “But I do not believe that the allegations levelled by the family and the PkSF are correct.”
In Lyari, an alleged comrade of the notorious Lyari gangster, Ghaffar Zikri, was killed during a joint operation conducted by Rangers and police in Zikri Mohalla. The operation was launched on the night between Friday and Saturday. During the exchange of fire, an alleged gangster, who was later identified as Sameer Baloch, was killed. Separately, an alleged criminal was killed during a joint raid conducted by Ibrahim Hyderi and Sukkhan police in Labour Square, Landhi. The deceased was identified as Siddiq Commando alias Lal. Sukkhan SHO Rao Rafiq said that the deceased was involved in targeted killings of police personnel and kidnappings.
Meanwhile, as many as one dozen suspects were rounded up during a search operation in Sohrab Goth. This was the second major targeted raid by Rangers since the three back-to-back attacks on the paramilitary force in Karachi that claimed the lives of three personnel.
According to Rangers sources, they launched a targeted operation in Sohrab Goth’s Al Azam Square. The entire locality was cordoned off during the operation while the markets and shops were also shut. During the door-to-door search, the Rangers personnel rounded up a number of suspects, however, a majority of them were later released. Rangers spokesperson told The Express Tribune that 12 suspects were apprehended.
In another encounter, Memon Goth police claimed to have arrested three members of a dacoit gang after an exchange of fire. The three suspects, Amin Khaskheli, Altaf Hussain and Tahir Khaskheli, were arrested. Meanwhile, Crime Investigation Department claimed to have apprehended an alleged target killer. CID Investigations in-charge Mazhar Mashwani said that the accused, Mustafa Rehman, was wanted by police in at least four cases of target killings and five cases of extortion.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2014.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ