Three killed as muggers rule the roost in Islamabad

Islamabad: A head constable of the Federal Capital Police was gunned down by a gang of muggers with his 18-year-old son at G-11 falling in the jurisdiction of Ramna Police Station Sunday, police said. Zeshan Ashraf, the son of martyred HC Mohammad Ashraf was a student at a local college.

Head Constable (HC) Mohammad Ashraf reached home in G-11 after completing his duty but had to rush out of the house after hearing sounds of shouting and witnessing a gang of three muggers trying to snatch a purse and mobile phone set from passers-by, the HC shouted at the muggers and followed them but they opened fire at the cop and his young son and fled away on their bike.

The HC and his son fell down after receiving multiple bullets on the upper part of their bodies. They, however, were shifted to hospital by the inhabitants of the area but they both succumbed to their injuries on their way to hospital. Upon receiving information, the Ramna police reached the scene with the DPO (Sadar) and cordoned off the areas initiating a search and combing operation to hunt down the muggers but couldn’t get them.

The police sources, however, claimed that the attackers have been identified through Safe City CCTV Cameras and police teams have been sent to get them. In another incident of shooting during the looting, gangsters killed a civilian on resistance in G/9-4 falling in the jurisdiction of Karachi Company police station, Sunday.

The victim identified as Shakil was passing through G-9/4 when a gang of muggers held him at gun point to snatch cash and a mobile phone from him but upon showing resistance, the gunmen opened fire and ran away. The victim was shifted to PIMS but he couldn’t survive. In another incident, a gang of muggers snatched a Honda-125 bike and mobile phone from a police constable, Ali Raza, after holding him at gunpoint in the jurisdiction of the Industrial Area police station on Sunday, police sources said. The gangsters threatened the cop during the mugging, not to shout otherwise he would be gunned down. The gangster left the spot on the snatched bikes safely.

Meanwhile, the funeral prayer of the valiant martyr Head Constable of Islamabad Capital Police, Muhammad Ashraf, and his son was offered at Police Lines Headquarters Islamabad. The funeral ceremony was attended by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, senior police officials, administration, officers from various law enforcement departments, a large number of police personnel, and citizens.

A smart contingent unit of the police force presented a guard of honour to the martyr, and IGP Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan and senior police officials draped the coffins with flower wreaths, before transporting their mortal remains to their ancestral village in Bhawana, district Chiniot.

The IGP met with the bereaved family, expressing heartfelt condolences on behalf of the entire police force, and recited fateha for the elevation of the martyrs' ranks. "We wear our uniform with pride and are resolute in our dedication to duty. Such cowardly acts will not deter our resolve. Our police force stands united, determined to eradicate elements that threaten society,” stated Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan.