KARACHI, Sept 14: An armed man was shot dead by police while his accomplice managed to escape in an encounter on Rashid Minhas Road on Sunday.

TPO Shah Faisal Town Asif Ajaz told Dawn that a family returning from airport in their car (AAK-220) was kidnapped by two armed men at a traffic signal on Sharea Faisal on Sunday afternoon.

He said that Muntajim Khan had returned from the United States. His family including father and his wife and a child had gone to the airport to receive him.

According to the TPO, a pedestrian, who had witnessed the armed men getting into the car, told about the incident to DSP Al-Falah Majeed Abbas who was at that time busy in making security arrangements on Sharea Faisal for the prime minister’s arrival.

The DSP chased the car (AAK-220), which turned towards Rashid Minhas Road by taking the flyover. On seeing police, the armed men stopped the car near Army Public School and forced Mr Muntajim and his father to alight from the car.

One of the armed men also came down from the car and opened fire at the police. The other armed man drove away the car (AAK-220).

After a brief shoot out, the armed man stopped a Suzuki Vitara driven by Naseer Ahmed at gunpoint and asked him to drive on. In the meantime, DSP Al-Falah dropped his gunman on the spot and went ahead in pursuit of the vehicle.

As the kidnapper tried to escape under the cover of fire in Vitara, the gunmen, Sajid Mahmood, opened fire and killed the armed suspect. Mr Naseer remained unhurt in the firing, the TPO added.

The other armed man, who had escaped taking hostage Mrs Muntajim and her child, dropped them at Jauhar Mor and fled along with the bagga-ge of Mr Muntajim in the same car.

Meanwhile, the gunman of the DSP Al-Falah has been promoted to the post of head constable by the police high-ups following his prompt action.