KARACHI: Gulshan-i-Iqbal police on Thursday registered a case against “responsible persons” over death of five people and injuries to 27 others and damage to property because of a gas leakage explosion inside a private bank located in a multistorey residential building in Gulshan-i-Iqbal on Wednesday morning, said officials.

The police registered the case on the complaint of the bank’s manager but no one had been nominated in the FIR. Instead, it has been stated that the blast occurred due to gas leakage and the “responsible” should be taken to task.

The complainant, Mohammed Arif, said he and other staff members were present in the bank when at around 9.25am, an explosion occurred. As a result, the roof of the mezzanine floor collapsed. He said when he came out from the bank, he saw that injured persons were being taken in ambulances. Because of the explosion, the bank’s mezzanine hall’s roof collapsed and the ground floor also suffered heavy destruction while three cash safes and all lockers were also there.

The complainant said that later on he came to know that five people had lost their lives while 27 others were injured.

“My plea is that the explosion occurred due to Sui gas leakage, therefore, legal proceedings should be initiated against the responsible over charges of deaths, injuries and damages to the building,” according to contents of the FIR.

Heirs of victim claim gas was leaking from the flat for a month

The police registered the case under Sections 322, 427 and 337-A(i) of the Pakistan Penal Code pertaining to manslaughter, damage to property and causing injuries.

Separately, the police sources added that heirs of one of the deceased persons had also submitted an application before the police for registering an FIR against the bank management as their alleged negligence caused the explosion.

The relatives claimed that since last one month, gas was leaking from the flat under the possession of the bank, but they did not get it rectified despite the fact that this issue was brought into the notice of the bank management.

‘Robber’ shot dead by citizen

A suspected robber was shot dead by a citizen while another suspect was injured in Korangi, who was later on arrested from a hospital where he went for treatment, said police.

They added that two armed robbers tried to rob Mr Mehdi and Yasir Ikhlaq near Madani Masjid in Sector 33-C in Korangi No 3 1/2 when they were returning from Saddar early on Thursday morning.

The police said during resistance, Mr Mehdi opened fire on robbers from his licensed pistol and resultantly one suspect, who was later on identified as Arshi, 40, died on the spot. His accomplice fled in a wounded condition.

The Awami Colony police rushed to the spot and recovered one pistol and the body was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medico-legal formalities.

The police later on arrested the wounded suspect Khizar Din, who tried to get treatment from a hospital in Landhi.

The police claimed to have recovered a pistol, two snatched mobile phones and a purse from his possession.

Teenager shot dead

A 19-year-old man was shot dead in a New Town locality on Thursday evening, said police.

They added Taj Mohammad was shot and killed in firing by a security guard, Akbar, at Sharfabad Market. The suspect was taken into custody.

The police said the incident occurred at a franchise of a mobile company. The suspect claimed the gun “incidentally” went off. The police were investigating the case.

Woman falls victim to ‘honour killing’

A married woman was shot dead allegedly by her husband over so-called honour in Orangi Town on Thursday evening.

Police said that Sadia Bano 35, was killed by her husband Rehman Ali over some family matter inside their home in Benazir Colony in Sector 11 1/2.

The suspect managed to escape from the crime scene. The body was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital to fulfil medico-legal formalities.

A Pakistan Bazaar police officer, Asif, said the woman was murdered over “honour killing”.

Man dies in cylinder explosion

A man died while another was injured in a gas cylinder explosion in Gulshan-i-Iqbal on Thursday evening, said police and rescue service officials.

They added that the cylinder blast occurred at MS Trading Shop in Block 13-D.

As a result, two persons suffered critical injuries.

They were taken to the JPMC where one of them was pronounced dead on arrival.

A Chippa spokesperson identified the deceased as Danish Sagheer and injured as Mushtaq.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2020