RAWALPINDI - In separate incidents, a policeman was gunned down and two others sustained injuries when unidentified assailants opened fire at police patrolling parties in the twin cities on Saturday.

The first incident occurred at Kalyari Pull area of Maloot Sattian within the limits of Police Station Kotli Sattian wherein a constable namely Muhammad Mazhar was shot dead by unknown gunmen while the second incident happened near the Sultana Foundation in Islamabad wherein two constables Zulfiqar and Zafar sustained injuries during an attack.

According to sources, a police team headed by Sub Inspector Tariq Saeed was checking vehicles at a picket placed at Kalyari Pull at 8:20pm when they spotted a suspected Suzuki carry van coming from Rawalpindi.

The policemen signalled the vehicle to stop but some gunmen stepped down from the vehicle and opened fire at the police party.

As a result, sources said, a constable Muhammad Mazhar sustained multiple bullet injuries and died on the spot. However, other cops saved their lives by jumping into a small ditch along with road while the attackers managed escape from the scene.

“The attack was so swift and brazen that no cop could get a chance of retaliation,” a police officer told The Nation. He said a heavy contingent of police rushed to the crime scene and collected evidence besides shifting the dead body of the cop to hospital. ASP Kotli Sattian Javeria Muhammad Jamil, when contacted for her comments, confirmed the tragic incident.

She said that a cop was martyred by unknown assailants during a snap checking by a police party. She said a case under the Anti Terrorism Act against the unknown attackers was registered and begun investigation. “We have constituted several police teams and launched operation to arrest the killers,” she informed.

In a separate incident, two cops of Islamabad police came under heavy gunfire by unidentified attackers riding on a motorcycle near the Sultana Foundation.

The cops sustained bullet injuries and were moved to the Polyclinic for medical treatment. 

Sources said that constables Zulfiqar and Zafar were on routine patrol when two suspects riding on another motorcycle opened fire at the cops.

 The attackers managed escaped from the scene while the injured cops were shifted to the Polyclinic for medical treatment. The condition of the cops was told to be critical. A case has been filed against the attackers with no arrest so far. No police officer from Islamabad police was available for his comments on the issue.