Investigations update: Police unable to trace shooter at protest outside French consulate

The man was seen on television firing shots openly and then talking to the police.

KARACHI: The police investigators probing the skirmishes near the French consulate in Clifton on Friday afternoon have yet to trace the suspect who was roaming around with a pistol and firing shots openly.

In footage aired live on television, the man can be seen standing and talking to policemen after the protesters dispersed. The investigators have, however, included the policemen seen in the footage in their probe.

The student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, known as Islami Jamiat-e-Talba, was protesting outside the French consulate on Friday when they clashed with the police. A photographer of Agence France Presse, Asif Hassan, sustained a bullet wound in the clash.

So far, the police have recorded the statements of around 20 people but they have yet to record the injured photographer's statement. "We are in the initial stage of the investigations," said investigating officer Inspector Rafiq Ahmed Awan. "The watchmen of the area and the police personnel were among those whose statements have so far been recorded."

Sources said that a suspect clad in white shalwar kameez was a plainclothes policeman, Ajmal, who worked at the Boat Basin police station. "We cannot say whether or not he was a cop," said Clifton division SP Fida Hussain, while talking to The Express Tribune. "The footage shows he was standing along with other cops so we are questioning those police officials and personnel to trace him."

The FIR of the violent demonstration has, however, failed to mention which group the protesters belonged to. The police have registered an FIR No. 34/15 against more than 50 'veiled' men. The case has been filed under Sections 147, 148, 149, 353, 324, 427 and 395 of the Pakistan Penal Code on behalf of Boat Basin SHO Naseer Tanoli.

"The IJT workers were protesting peacefully but over 50 veiled men were the ones who disturbed the law and order situation," claimed SP Hussain. "Neither we, nor the IJT men, knew them." The police have yet to determine whether the photographer was shot and injured by the police, the suspect in plainclothes or by the 'veiled' suspects.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2015.