February 26, 2008	Tuesday	Safar 18, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 25: A bank was robbed of Rs9 million by its security guard along with his three accomplices in an armed hold-up at Provisional Trade Centre in Gulshan-i-Iqbal on Monday morning.

Aziz Bhatti police said that three men visited the University Road branch of Al-Baraka Islamic Bank to see a security guard, Abid Hussain, at around 8.15am.

Quoting the branch manager, Nadim Hamid, police said that the armed men took the staff hostage at gunpoint in a room on the mezzanine floor. They collected Rs9 million and snatched cellular phones from the staff members, including the manager, in a bid to secure their safe escape, police added.

The manager told the police that guard Abid Hussain, son of Mir Hussain, was hired from Askari Security Company. He said the guard hailed from Waziristan.

He admitted that none of the security cameras installed in the branch were working at the time of the incident.

On his complaint, Aziz Bhatti police registered an FIR (96/2008) under Section-392 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Abid Hussain and some unidentified bandits have been nominated in the case.—PPI

Cop found shot dead

A constable was found shot dead at a police kiosk in Korangi in the small hours of Monday, adds our staff reporter.

Korangi Industrial police said that Anver Hussain, 45, was posted at Ameer Shaheed Chowki where unknown assailants shot him dead with his official rifle. They took away his mobile phone and wallet, but left behind the rifle.

The body was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. Hospital sources said that the man was shot a single bullet which pierced through his skull.

Police said that the kiosk was manned by an ASI and four constables during the day and by two policemen during the night. The constable was alone at the kiosk at night as his colleague did not turn up.

They said that a case against unknown culprits had been registered and an investigation into the murder was under way.

Police said that the victim hailed from Sargodha and his body was sent to his hometown for burial.