KARACHI: A shopkeeper was shot dead and his relative wounded in a mugging incident in Cattle Colony as armed robbers continued to strike in the metropolis during Eid holidays without any fear, depriving a large number of people of their cash, cell phones and other valuables.

The Cattle Colony incident took place late on Friday night within the remit of the Sukkan police station.

Police said that six robbers on two motorcycles arrived at a convenience store near Bengali Para and two of them entered while four others waited outside.

The two robbers held shop owner Zahid Qureshi and his brother-in-law Haji Younus at gunpoint and demanded cash, said area police officer Riaz Sanjrani.

Malir SSP suspends Sukkan SHO for failing to take effective action against robberies

He claimed that the shopkeepers offered resistance and the robbers fired at him and fled.

Both shopkeepers sustained bullet wounds and were taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), where doctors declared Zahid, 40, dead on arrival. Younus was admitted for treatment and his condition was said to be out of danger.

The officer said that the robbers fled without taking anything.

Before Eid, an expat, who came here to celebrate Eid with family, was gunned down in a Nazimabad area by armed robbers.

SHO suspended

Taking notice of the incident, the Malir SSP has suspended the SHO of the Sukkan police station for failing to curb crimes.

Also, Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad took notice of the incident and sought a report from the Malir SSP.

He said such incidents would not be tolerated and there would be no ‘apology’ for police officers for their failure to protect life and property of the people.

Two shot at, wounded

In Gulshan-i-Iqbal, armed criminals shot at and wounded a young man near Bait-ul-Mukarram Masjid.

Police said that the victim was identified as Fakhar Abbas, who was taken to the JPMC for treatment.

Another young man suffered bullet wounds when armed criminals fired at him in the Korangi Crossing area near Bilal Masjid.

The victim was identified as Saqib Ali, 30. He was taken to the JPMC for treatment.

Policeman held for killing man

A policeman and his friend were arrested for their alleged involvement in murdering a man in the Ramswami area on the first day of Eidul Azha, police said on Saturday.

The Nabi Bux police said that Liaquat was standing in his apartment’s balcony when he was hit by a bullet and died.

City SSP Arif Aziz said that Hasan and Amir had a dispute and the former, along with his constable friend Akash Ali, went there to settle score with Amir.

He said that they had a heated argument and Constable Akash fired into the air. However, a bullet hit Liaquat in the chest. He was taken to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, where he died during treatment.

The policeman, who is posted at the Preedy police station, and his friend were arrested, the SSP said.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2023