January 16, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 15, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 15: Two policemen accompanying SP Aslam Khan were killed in an ambush by unknown suspects on the Sunset Boulevard in the Defence Housing Authority on Sunday. The SP remained unhurt in the attack. The incident occurred amid tight security in the city on account of the president’s visit to the city.

SP Aslam Khan told Dawn that he was heading to work in a police mobile when he and his associates noticed that some people were loading weapons into a silver colour car at the Submarine traffic signal.

“We turned our vehicle and tried to chase them, but they disappeared in the narrow streets of Punjab Colony. As we returned to the main road, Sunset Boulevard, after suspending our search, we were ambushed from one of the narrow streets of Punjab Colony,” the SP said.

ASI Arif and Constable Nadeem suffered multiple bullet wounds in the head and chest and died on the spot.

The SP said that so far his six guards had been gunned down in different incidents in the city.

Following the Sunday’s incident, police searched the area of Punjab Colony and found the vehicle abandoned in the Chandio Village. Police seized four Kalashnikovs, 10 magazines and a dagger from the car, which had been snatched by the suspects in the Nazimabad police limits on Jan 7.

The suspects were using a fake registration number (AGY-815) whereas its original number was AHF-017, TPO Imran Shaukat said.

Police shifted the bodies to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for legal formalities, where police officers of the Karachi operation came to condole the deaths of their associates.

Following the incident, police removed the bullet-riddled police van from the spot. Blood was dripping from the vehicle parked at the Clifton TPO’ office.

A senior police official said they strongly suspected the involvement of the Rehman Dakait or Arshad Pappu groups in the shooting.

The seizure of four SMGs and several rounds suggested that the suspects were linked with the Lyari gang war, SP Aslam Khan said.

The funeral of the two slain policemen will be held at the police headquarters after Zuhar prayers on Monday.

KILLED: Two men were shot dead in mobile phone and cash snatching bids in different areas of the city on Sunday.

Police said that two armed men on a motorcycle intercepted Muhammad Saleem in Liaquatabad No 6. As they tried to snatch his cellphone, Saleem resisted. The suspects pumped a bullet in his head and fled. Police said that Saleem was father of a policeman.

In Pirabad police limits, some armed men killed a shopkeeper.

Police said that Ishaq Mehsood, 20, was heading towards home after closing his shop in Nusrat Nagar area when unknown persons snatched his cash and shot him in abdomen. He was rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.