KARACHI, April 26: A policeman was killed and a suspected gangster wounded during an exchange of fire in Lyari in the early hours of Thursday, officials said.

They added that the Baghdadi police had cordoned off the Moosa Lane area to carry out a ‘targeted operation’ there but faced stiff resistance from ‘gangsters’ and an exchange of fire ensued.

The police said that Ayaz alias Lehri said to be associated with Baba Ladla gang sustained the bullet wounds during the shoot-out with the law-enforcement personnel.

He was later found at the Civil Hospital Karachi, where police took him into custody.

As the police faced stiff resistance, reinforcement from the CID police reached the area for the targeted operation. But the CID police vans came under a gun attack, leaving three policemen wounded.

Sub-inspector Anwar Lodhi, head constable Mohammad Altaf and police constable Aamir Baig were rushed to a private hospital, where Altaf died during treatment.

Resident of Preedy police quarters, HC Altaf had joined the police force in 1984. He worked for CID, CIA, SIU and several police stations during his career.

The victim was the father of seven children.

SP Chaudhry Aslam said the police acting on the information provided by Shahid Bikik then conducted raids at Nawa Lane and Moosa Lane.

They picked up three persons and seized three Kalashnikovs, five hand grenades and several rounds found in their custody.

A case (120/2012) was later registered against People’s Amn Committee leaders Uzair Jan Baloch, Zahid Ladla, Zubair Baloch, Rashid Rekha, Wasiullah Lakho, Umer Katchhi, Jabbar Jingo, Faisal Pathan, Naeem Pathan and Fahad Pathan under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 324 (attempt to murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code, Section 3/4 of the Explosive Act and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act on a complaint of the wounded sub-inspector.