RAWALPINDI: Separate police parties came under fire in Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Saturday which left one constable dead and three others injured.

In Kotli Sattian of Rawalpindi district, two constables — Mazhar Hussain and Mohammad Waqar — signaled a van to stop in a village of Maloot Sattian.

Instead of stopping the vehicle, the van driver hit the police bike and then one of the occupants opened fire on the police party, injuring both of them.

The culprits, however, managed to escape.

One of the injured police officials, Mazhar Hussain, died while being shifted to a nearby hospital by the rescue staff.

Mohammad Waqas is stated to be in critical condition.

When contacted, SSP Operation Mohammad bin Ashraf confirmed the incident.

In another incident in the suburbs of Islamabad, two policemen and as many suspects were injured in an exchange of fire. A police patrol spotted six people acting suspiciously.

When they approached them they found one of the men holding a pistol.

They overpowered him but soon the other individuals started firing at the policemen, injuring constables Zafar Iqbal and Zulfikar Ali. Two suspects were also injured in the gunfire.

Later other police teams arrived at the scene and shifted the injured to hospital.

The condition of all the injured was stated to be stable.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2018