Cop killed in North Nazimabad drive-by shooting

Constable becomes second policeman murdered in city in three days;
IGP orders measures to prevent attacks on cops

A policeman was gunned down near Ziauddin Chowrangi in North Nazimabad on Saturday morning, three days after another cop was targeted in Korangi.

SSP Central Muqadas Haider said constable Munawar Shah, 28, a resident of Kausar Niazi Colony in North Nazimabad who was posted at the New Karachi police station, left home on his motorcycle in the morning.

He was crossing Ziauddin Chowrangi when two men riding a motorcycle opened fire while on the move and fled.

The constable was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

He had suffered five bullet wounds to chest. The SSP said the attackers had a 9mm pistol and spent bullet shells were found at the crime scene.  The official added that Shah’s murder appeared to a case of target killing but other aspects would also be investigated.

The murdered policeman’s funeral prayer was offered at Garden police headquarters.

Senior police officials including IGP AD Khowaja attended the funeral.

The police spokesperson said the IGP had directed his subordinates to expedite action against terrorists and their abettors in the wake of the killing of cops in Karachi.

The IGP expressed his concern over the recent killing of the policemen and ordered that cops deployed at police stations and headquarters should be trained about the terrorists’ methods of attacks.

The IGP directed that all SSPs should arrange training sessions under their supervision wherein police personnel should be taught and briefed about departmental responsibilities as well as terrorist’ techniques and timings so that they could take precautionary measures for their own security.

He ordered the officers concerned to accelerate the crackdown on terrorists and their patrons as part of proactive policing. He also directed his subordinates to ensure that information about criminals’ activities was shared with other agencies.

Korangi attack

On Thursday, 35-year-old ASI Shahzad Akhtar was shot dead by six assailants in Korangi. Akhtar, along with constable Arshad, was heading towards the Korangi police station on the former’s personal car and had stopped at a paan shop when the attack took place.

The Korangi SHO narrated that the ASI, who was in plainclothes, was waiting in the car while the constable dealt with the shop owner. It was at this point that six assailants riding three motorcycles drew up alongside the car and opened fire with 9mm pistols.  The constable and all other bystanders remained unhurt and the attackers managed to make an unhindered getaway.

Critically injured, ASI Akhtar – a resident of the Korangi police quarters – was rushed to the nearby Chiniot Hospital but passed away soon after.

His body was shifted to the JPMC for legal formalities.

The SHO said over a dozen empty 9mm bullet casings found at the crime scene had been sent on to the forensics division.

Police questioning three boys about three missing schoolgirls

Police have detained three boys and are questioning them about three schoolgirls who went missing in the Saudabad locality on Friday.

All students of ninth grade, Bisma, Iqra and Rabia, went to school in the Saudabad area of the Malir district but did not return home. Their parents registered a case of their disappearance at Saudabad Police Station late on Friday night. They said they dropped their daughters at school, but the school administration claimed that the three were found absent.

Police claimed that the girls were in contact with the detained boys, identified as Shabee, Ali and Muddasir, whose cellphones contained text messages exchanged with the girls. 

They said one girl’s mobile phone had been traced to an area adjacent to Ayesha Bawani School on Sharea Faisal.  The police said they were unsure if the girls had been abducted or they had themselves disappeared. However, they said, raids were being carried out for their immediate recovery. —Online 

Minister meets parents

Taking notice of the schoolgirls going missing, the provincial social welfare minister met the SSP Korangi and the girls’ parents.

The minister, Shamim Mumtaz, directed SSP Korangi Nauman Ahmed Siddique, investigation officer Haider Raza, DSP Hassan Raza, SIO Aslam Mughal and Saudabad SHO Muhammad Ali to investigate the matter on a priority basis and rescue the missing girls at the earliest.

She also met the parents of missing girls and the three young men arrested in connection with the case. Mumtaz directed the police interrogate the youth, but refrain from torturing them.

She assured the parents of the missing girls that they would be found soon. 

The SSP Korangi informed the minister that investigation was under way and girls would be found soon. He added that the three girls were friends and CCTV footage showed that the girls had not reached their school on Friday. He said the cell phone of one of the girls was traced to Liaquatabad at 2am on Saturday and found to be switched off.