KARACHI: Two Military Police (MP) official were killed on Tuesday after their vehicle was fired upon by unidentified gunmen near Tibet Centre on MA Jinnah road.

Senior medico-legal officer (MLO) Dr Nisar Shah of Civil Hospital said one of the military personnel, Rashid, was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. The second, Arshad, succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at the hospital.

Arshad was a Havildar while Rashid was a Lance Naik with the Pakistan Army's Military Police.

AIG Mushtaq Meher told Dawn that two Military Police personnel were fired at by masked gunmen. A 9mm pistol was used in the attack, he said.

DIG South Dr Jamil told journalists that the two masked attackers opened indiscriminate fire on the military jeep and fled the scene. He confirmed that only two military personnel were present in the vehicle at the time of attack.

The police official said that four to five bullet casings had also been collected from the scene.

The two attackers, riding motorcycles, immediately fled the scene, which is near the Preedy Police Station, said eye witnesses.

The wounded personnel were shifted to Civil Hospital for treatment.

Security officials have cordoned off the area while forensic officials have reached the spot to collect evidence that will aid the investigation.

The bodies were later shifted to PNS Shifa.

One suspicious person has been taken into custody.

The area was partially sealed.

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has taken notice of the attack, ordering an immediate investigation. Sindh Police Inspector General (IG) Ghulam Hyder Jamali also visited the site of the attack.

The Pakistan Army Military Police (MP) is the law-enforcement branch of the army and are responsible for maintaining law and order with in the army. All branches of the armed forces have their own branch of police.

MA Jinnah road is a major artery of the metropolis and is usually congested during the day.

Karachi operation

An ‘operation’ against criminal elements in Pakistan’s commercial hub was initiated back in September 2013 after the federal cabinet empowered Rangers to lead a targeted advance with the support of police against criminals already identified by federal military and civilian agencies for their alleged involvement in targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism in Karachi.

A high-level apex committee meeting chaired by the Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif on May 14, 2015 decided to implement effective policing and surveillance in the "vast suburbs of Karachi", to prevent what the military spokesperson said were "sneaking terrorist attacks".

Amid resentment and criticism from certain political circles over the ‘Karachi operation’, the military establishment in August said that there would be no let-up in actions by law enforcement agencies “to ensure a peaceful and terror-free Karachi”.

Gen Raheel Sharif pays tribute

Army Chief General Raheel Sharif paid rich tributes to valour and sacrifice of the Military Police soldiers who were killed in the attack, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) spokesman Lt Gen Asim Bajwa tweeted on Tuesday.

Such terrorist acts aim to undermine progress of Operation Zarb-i-Azb but such attempts cannot shake the nation’s resolve to root out terrorism from Pakistan once and for all, Gen Raheel was quoted as saying.

The army chief instructed intelligence and security agencies to go to any length to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack.