KARACHI - Three suspected gangsters were killed during an alleged encounter with the police in Lyari area, while two suspected militants were caught by citizens and later handed over to the police in Orangi Town locality, here on Saturday.
According to police, the encounter took place at Sardar Sheikha Road in Nayabad within the premises of Kalri police station. Police said that the suspects resorted to fire during a raid at a hideout. During exchange of fire three suspected gangsters were killed.
Their bodies were taken to Civil Hospital for completing medico-legal formalities where they were identified as 22-year-old Rehman, Ali, 19, and Arjun, 20. They were the residents of Shah Baig Lane area of Lyari.
DSP Murtaza Mirani said that one police constable Khalid was injured in the crossfire. The officer said that the killed gangsters belonged to the Sheraz Comrade group of Uzair Baloch group and were involved in various cases. “We raided for their arrests a number of times, but each time, they escaped. Even three jawans of ours were injured in the previous raids,” DSP Mirani claimed. “But this time, it was their bad luck.” DSP Mirani claimed that the killed gangsters were commanders of Nayabad and its surroundings and were involved in various cases of extortion. They were also involved in numerous cases of street crimes. Cases are registered while further investigations are underway.
Meanwhile, Two suspected militants were caught and later handed over to the police they were allegedly trying to abduct the local leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) in Orangi Town.
Nearly 20 suspects on two hi-roof vans and at least four motorcycles tried to kidnap ANP’s local leader, Syed Badshah Afridi at Toori Bangash Colony in Orangi Town within the limits of Iqbal Market police station. Fortunately, the kidnapping foiled as Afridi’s brother immediately called the police. ANP leader Afridi claimed that two of the suspects were caught and handed over to the police while remaining escaped. Afridi who is also the former president of ANP’s PS-94 and a transporter by profession claimed that he was receiving threats by militants since November last year. “The men were threatening me to leave ANP or give them donation money,” Afridi claimed. “They even warned me that if I do not follow their instructions, they will kill me.”
ANP spokesperson strongly condemned the incident saying that Afridi fortunately escaped the kidnapping bid but a number of leaders and party workers, particularly from District West have so far been killed by the militants in the past. He demanded police protection to the party’s leaders. On the other hand, Orangi Town SP Ali Asif said that the no case has been registered as the complainants did not approach the police for registering the case while further investigation was underway.
Meanwhile, Voicing concerns over the lingering crisis involving upcoming Senate elections, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain wrote a letter to chief justice of Pakistan urging for a befitting role of the Supreme Court to break the current political imbroglio.
In a statement issued from the party’s London Secretariat, he expressed dismay over the current political situation and called upon the apex court to intercede.
Altaf Hussain asserted, “As the Supreme Court is the guardian of the Constitution, I hereby call upon the Honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nasirul Mulk and his learned companion Judges to suo moto, invoking article 184(3) of the Constitution, issue directions under articles 187, 189 and 190 of the Constitution whereby a proper methodology for the Senate Elections is declared and if necessary, a commission be appointed under order 32 of the Supreme Court Rules, whereby members of the Armed Forces, select Parliamentarians, lawyers, technocrats and others known in diversified fields, are appointed as members of the commission so as to resolve the present crisis.”
Picking apart the potential maneuver to introduce an amendment against horse-trading, Altaf was of the view that the situation is bound to further aggravate thanks to the game of numbers if an attempt is made to bring about a Constitutional Amendment.
Drawing attention towards the law and order situation in the country, the MQM chief said the recent threats and attacks from Daish and Taliban nudged Pakistan into an undesirable state of war.
Despite a sharp decline in the international oil prices, he said, the citizens are facing price hikes of even the most essential commodities, shortage of petroleum products, and also massive shortage of gas and electricity, which have virtually crippled the industries of the country.