KARACHI: The shooting death of an 18-year-old man allegedly by police on Thursday evening for not stopping his motorbike when signalled by police triggered an hours-long sit-in on the Superhighway by relatives of the victim, political workers and area people, according to police, witnesses and activists.

The protest ended when an area legislator intervened and gave assurances to the protesters that a case would be lodged against the culprits.

According to area people, Munawwar Khaskheli was riding a motorcycle when a patrolling police party motioned him to stop on the highway near Dumba Goth. As he did not halt, the police opened fire on him. He was on his way back home in Dumba Goth after work at a factory. He died on the spot.

The incident triggered a protest by the area people, which was also joined by workers of the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid. The protesters caught three policemen with a police mobile while one policeman, who had allegedly opened fire, escaped, said Zulfiqar Palari, one of the protesters. He said the incident occurred at 6.30pm.

Area elders dissuaded the protesters from resorting to violence. However, their peaceful sit-in continued till 10pm. Traffic remained stuck on the main highway.

PPP MPA Sajid Jokhio held talks with the protesters and promised that legal action would be taken against the policemen involved. On his assurances, the protester dispersed.

PML-Q Malir general secretary Riaz Palari and the party’s spokesperson claimed that the deceased was their worker.

When contacted by Dawn, DIG-East Munir Ahmed Shaikh, Memon Goth DSP Pervez Ali Shah and Memon Goth police station- in-charge Wazir Ali Channa appeared reluctant to share information about the incident.

Man shot dead in Pak Colony

A 55-year-old man was shot dead in Pak Colony on Thursday evening, police said.

They added that when Inayatullah left a marble shop in Raxer Lane in the Old Golimar area on a motorbike, armed motorcyclists attacked him and fled.

The victim was a resident of Ittehad Town and hailed from Punjab. He had recently divorced his wife and married another woman.

The police said that might have triggered a family dispute leading to his murder.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2014