KARACHI: A suspected robber was killed in a police ‘encounter’ in Surjani Town on Monday, officials said.

The suspect, identified as Hasan Shah, had also killed three persons, including a pregnant woman, and used his wife as a “cover” in his crimes.

SSP West Mohammed Younis Chandio said that his wife had already been charge sheeted in the three cases.

He said that he was traced through modern technology near Zero Point in Surjani Town. A police team signalled him to stop but he resorted to firing and in an ensuing encounter he got killed on the spot.

The SSP said that his wife, Yasmeen, was arrested a couple of weeks ago.

The couple had allegedly killed a pregnant woman, Shabana, near her father’s house in Khuda Ki Basti in October. The next day, the suspect had killed Nadeem Raza while snatching his mobile phone in the same vicinity when the victim put up resistance.

Three months ago, the couple had also killed Sufi Shahid when he offered resistance to their robbery attempt.

The SSP said the deceased’s wife carried a pistol in her purse when the couple roamed the area on a motorbike in search of their prey.

He was arrested in 2012 and 2014 for carrying illegal weapons and robbery but got released on bail. His three other accomplices had already been arrested.

The SSP said that the police faced difficulties in tracing him as he used to carry the identity documents of his brother and frequently changed his mobile phone number.

The police claimed to have seized one motorbike and pistol from his possession. The weapon was sent for a forensic analysis since the police were certain that it was used in the three murders.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2017