KARACHI: At least one police official was killed and another critically injured when two unidentified assailants opened fire upon a police vehicle in a bid to free prisoners on Friday.

The incident took place in the Baloch Colony area of the metropolis.

The prisoners, identified as Mohammad Imtiaz and Abdul Malik were arrested from Korangi, and were involved in the murder of a police constable.

The under-trial prsioners were being transported back in a private vehicle after attending court proceedings in an anti-terrorism court (ATC).

Assailants also snatched the official weapons of the police officials before fleeing the scene of the incident.

The police officials were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for treatment, where one was pronounced dead on arrival and the other is stated to be in critical condition.

Both suffered gunshot wounds to the head from close range.

Earlier in the month, two police officials were shot dead in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA).

"Suspects traveling in a car opened fire on two policemen," said SSP Karachi South Saqib Ismail Memon.

The armed assailants managed to escape from the crime scene immediately after the attack, he said.

The senior official said the policemen were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where doctors pronounced them dead on arrival.