KARACHI: Five alleged gang-war criminals belonging to the ‘Shiraz Comrade’ group were killed during a search operation by police in the troubled Lyari town late Monday night, DawnNews reported.

Details reveal that around 200 police officials were carrying out a targeted search operation in Lyari when they were fired at by gang-war criminals belonging to the ‘Shiraz Comrade’ group. Police’s retaliation left five members of the group dead, while two policemen also received bullet wounds in the exchange of fire.

According to SSP City Fida Hussain, the deceased criminals were involved in target killing, extortion, murdering police officials and kidnapping for ransom.

Law enforcement agencies have been actively seeking to rid Karachi — Pakistan’s commercial hub— of terrorism and violence via operations in the city’s troubled areas for well over a year now.

Both police and Rangers have raided plenty of areas and have arrested thousands of suspects and criminals to ensure peace in the city, which has been hit by a wave of law and order problems.

Pillion riding banned

The Sindh government has banned pillion-riding in the city from March 17 to March 23, keeping in view the security situation during polio eradication campaign in the metropolis.

Officials of the home department said the provincial administration on the advice of the Karachi police banned pillion-riding which would be effective from Tuesday.

The ban shall not be applicable to women, children below the age of 12 years, senior citizens, journalists, personnel of law-enforcement agencies and security agencies in uniform and employees of the essential services.