KARACHI: Gunmen riding motorcycles killed six policemen in two attacks on patrol vans in Karachi’s Landhi area on Saturday.

Three of the slain cops were guarding the residence of Muhajir Qaumi Movement chief Afaq Ahmed.

“The policemen were killed when unknown gunmen on motorcycles fired at their patrol vehicles with automatic weapons and threw a hand-grenade at one vehicle,” said DIG East Munir Ahmed Shaikh.

He said the police were investigating who was behind the attack, adding that nobody had claimed responsibility for the shootings.

According to Karachi police spokesman Atiq Ahmed Sheikh, three police vans were deployed at Afaq Ahmed’s home in Landhi’s sector 6. One of them was attacked with a grenade, causing injuries to three policemen.

Then gunmen attacked another vehicle in Landhi’s sector 3½, inflicting bullet wounds to three cops.

All the wounded cops were taken to the Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical Centre, but doctors pronounced them dead.

Dr Seemin Jamali, head of the hospital’s emergency department, said the policemen died of injuries caused by explosives and bullets.

The dead were identified as ASIs Mohammed Jawed and Naeem Ahmed, head constable Asim Khan and constables Fida Hussain, Asif Ali and Khalil Ahmed.

Dr Jamali said sub-inspector Shahzado Khan was admitted for treatment.

Later in the night, the authorities launched a targeted action in several localities of Landhi.

Shahid Hayat Khan, the Karachi police chief, said: “Different groups are targeting policemen, but we are determined to bring them to justice.”

Khalid Hameed, the Muhajir Qaumi Movement’s spokesperson, said the attack was a move by “our rivals to terrorise Afaq Ahmed” because the Sindh High Court has ordered removal of his name from the exit control list.

Sub-inspector killed

In Surjani Town, Sub-inspector Sabir Ali was shot dead after police launched a search operation. Sabir Ali had taken part in the 1992 operation, according to police.