KARACHI: A suspected militant who had been missing since last one year was found dead in the outskirts of the metropolis on Monday, according to police.

Gulshan-i-Maymar police said that the body of the man later on identified as Luqman Khan, 32, was recovered from bushes near Sawan Mor off the Northern Bypass on Monday morning. The corpse was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital to fulfil legal formalities.

Malir SSP Irfan Bahadur said that apparently, there were no bullet or injury marks on his body. Therefore, the doctors reserved his cause of death for histopathological and chemical examiner’s report.

Police sources said that the deceased had been missing since 2019 from Pirabad area of Orangi Town. The family had lodged his missing/kidnapping report at Pirabad police station in the same year.

The police sources said that the deceased originally belonged to Swat area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They revealed that the missing man had reportedly links with militants in Swat.

Suspect shot dead, policeman hurt in encounter

A suspected robber was shot dead while a policeman was injured during exchange of fire in the SITE area on Monday, according to police.

According to SITE SHO Ayaz Khan, the police encounter took place at terminus of 1-D bus near Habib Chowrangi. “After exchange of fire, one policeman, Jehangir Khan, 25, [was] shot and injured.”

In retaliatory firing by the police, one suspect was also injured and arrested.

The officer claimed that the wounded suspect died while being taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. His identity could not be ascertained immediately. The injured constable was referred to Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital for treatment.

Rangers detain Lyari gang-war suspect over extortion

Pakistan Rangers Sindh on Monday claimed to have arrested a suspect linked with Lyari gang-war elements over charges of extortion.

The paramilitary force and the police jointly conducted an intelligence-based action in Old Sabzi Mandi area and arrested the suspect, Mohammed Waseem alias Waseem Bhaya.

“The held suspect belonged to Ustad Ahmed Ali Magsi-led Lyari gang-war group,” said the spokesperson.

The held suspect under directions of Magsi had entered an office of a builder in Bahadurabad on Dec 7, 2020 and demanded Rs5 million as bhatta (extortion). He was armed with pistol and hand grenade and he could be seen in the CCTV footage obtained from the area.

During initial interrogation, the suspect revealed that the Magsi-led gang was also involved in a recent gunfire attack on a biryani shop in PIB Colony, which was linked to extortion.

The suspect has also been involved in street crimes and robberies in different parts of the city and efforts were under way to arrest remaining members of the gang.

Subsequently, the held suspect was handed over to the police along with arms and ammunition for further legal action.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2021