Traffic policeman gunned down in year’s eighth attack on cops

By Salis bin Perwaiz

July 25, 2017

KARACHI: Three days after as many policemen were gunned down in District Korangi, a traffic cop was shot dead in an attack in Gulshan Town on Monday, bringing the total number of law enforcers killed this year to 14 in eight such incidents.

Head Constable Mohammad Khan was gunned down and HC Mohammad Kamran injured near the Paradise Bakery on Abul Hasan Ispahani Road in the town’s Gulzar-e-Hijri locality. Karachi Traffic Police chief DIG Asif Aijaz Shaikh said three HCs of the Gulzar-e-Hijri traffic section were on duty at Paradise Chowk, adding that four men on two motorbikes rode in around 7:40pm and the pillion passengers opened fire on the cops.

DIG Shaikh said the policemen were wearing bulletproof vests, but HC Khan suffered three to four bullets to the head and arms and died on the spot, adding that his body was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

He said HC Kamran suffered five to six bullets to the arms, neck and chest, adding that he was taken to the Aga Khan University Hospital, while HC Iqbal had taken cover in a nearby shop to survive the attack.

The DIG said HC Khan hailed from Pano Aqil and lived in Mobina Town’s Bakhsh Ali Goth near Scout Colony, adding that he was around 30 years old and survived by a wife and an adopted son.

DSP Khalid Khan of the Sachal Division said the three cops had been controlling traffic at the same spot for the past many years, adding that their attackers were wearing surgical masks. He said HC Kamran had tried to retaliate but in vain, adding that one of the assailants snatched the cop’s official MP-5 from him as the four men made their escape.

The DSP said the police had collected 13 spent bullet shells of 9mm pistols from the scene of the crime and sent them to the forensic division for examination. The official said that according to the Gulshan-e-Iqbal SHO, patrolling police officials had attempted to stop the assailants in Block-7 near the Sherpao CNG filling station, but they opened fire on the cops and escaped without leaving any casualty in their wake, adding that the CCTV footage of the attack was being analysed to proceed further.

Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Sindh chief Addl IGP Sanaullah Abbasi said the incident should be considered a terror activity and part of a series of similar attacks by the same group.

Abbasi said he and his staff had visited the scene of the crime and directed the SSP of the Intelligence Wing to expand their network to apprehend the people responsible for creating an air of uncertainty in the city by targeting law enforcers.

Responding to a query, he said he did not wish to speculate on the involvement of Ansarul Sharia Pakistan or a Taliban faction in the attack. He added that they would not get the picture until the assailants were brought to book, following which they would be in a position to name the group responsible for the attack.

The year’s first attack on law enforcers was carried out on January 4, when Sub-Inspector Iqbal Mehmood was gunned down on Sharea Faisal. In the second attack of the month, CTD official Khalid Hussain was shot dead in Jamshed Town on January 10.

On February 21 Pakistan Qaumi Razakar Ali Nawaz was killed in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, followed by the Manghopir attack in which police intelligence officer Fareed was targeted in on April 11.

ASI Mohammad Iftikhar and HC Raja Younus were gunned down in New Town’s Dhoraji locality on May 20, while ASI Mohammad Yousuf and police constables Shabir, Khalid and Israr were shot dead in the Site Area on June 23.

The most recent attack was carried out on July 21, when the Awami Colony police station’s ASI Qamruddin, constable Babar Ali and HC Afzal fell victim to a brazen assault carried out by hitherto unidentified terrorists.

COPS UNDER ATTACK

14 POLICEMEN HAVE BEEN SHOT DEAD IN THE CITY THIS YEAR

JAN 4

cop gunned down ON SHAREA FAISAL

JAN 10

cop shot dead IN jamshed town

feb 21

cop gunned down IN GULiStAN-E-jauhar

APR 11

cop shot dead IN MANGHOPIR

MAY 20

two cops gunned down in dhoraji