Traffic constable, bystander gunned down in Sher Shah

A traffic police constable and a bystander were shot dead in Sher Shah on Saturday. Over the past nine months, some seven policemen have been killed in different areas of Karachi, majority of them in the East and Central districts, in various firing incidents.

The incident took place near Paracha Chowk, where unidentified suspects gunned down a PC and a passerby before escaping. Police are yet to ascertain if the incident was a case of robbery or target killing. They are checking CCTV camera footage to ascertain the facts of the incident.

District Keamari police chief SSP Capt. (retd) Faizan Ali said that so far two different accounts of the incident have emerged, the first version suggesting that two men on a motorbike got into an argument with the PC.

The officer said that the traffic cop then chased the two men, who knocked the policeman down and shot him dead after snatching his pistol.

SSP Ali said that according to the second version, the suspects attempted to snatch the PC’s pistol while he was on duty. The officer said that when the constable resisted, the suspects shot him with their own weapons, then fled with his pistol.

The Keamari police chief said that it is difficult to confirm the exact sequence of events right now because the investigation is still in the initial stage. Evidence is being collected, including CCTV camera footage, to determine whether this was a robbery or a target killing, he added.

The PC had suffered three bullets to the neck, chest and arm. The second victim, who had been standing nearby, hailed from Quetta and used to sell worn shoes. He was also killed on the spot. A total of four 9mm bullet casings were recovered from the crime scene.

The casualties were taken to Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, where the constable was identified as 35-year-old Khudadad, son of Haji Mama, and the bystander as 22-year-old Ghausullah, son of Hamza.

South Zone police chief DIG Asad Raza also reached the crime scene, where the SSP briefed him on the initial investigation. Meanwhile, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar sought a detailed report from the SSP.

Lanjar stressed the importance of conducting a thorough investigation, and directed the police to ensure the arrest of those involved in the constable’s killing.

He also instructed the district police to deploy special teams in the area to actively pursue the culprits and bring them to justice.

Karachi police chief Addl IG Javed Alam Odho called for a thorough investigation into the incident to bring the perpetrators to justice. He directed the DIG to submit a comprehensive and detailed inquiry report on the incident. He also issued orders for the immediate arrest of the suspects.