Iftar party attackers shot dead in police encounter

The gangsters who had attacked the participants of an iftar party at the Lyari football ground on June 18 were gunned down during a police encounter in Rangiwara on Thursday.

A local Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader had invited Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair to an iftar party in the restive town on Sunday. After he left, a hand grenade was hurled at the people watching the Pakistan-India ICC Champions Trophy final at the venue.

A Kalakot police official said four people were injured in the attack and were taken to the Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK). They were identified as Khalil Bux, 28, Haider Ali, 32, Imran Muhammad, 26, and Ahmad Ali, 41.

Chakiwara SHO Agha Mashook told The News that following up on a tip-off, a police team arrived at the Lyari General Hospital in the wee hours to arrest the attackers associated with the Baba Ladla gang, but they opened fire on the officials.

SHO Mashook said the police retaliated and killed three gangsters, adding that their bodies were taken to the CHK, where they were identified as Gul Hassan, alias Saein, Shahzad, alias Shakar, and Anas, alias Langra.

The officer said the police recovered a Kalashnikov, two TT pistols and several live rounds from the gangsters. Responding to a question, the SHO said the gangsters were heading Baba Ladla’s group in his absence.

Lyari SP Aftab Nizamani said eyewitnesses had identified two of the gangsters for their involvement in the June 18 attack.