KARACHI: An aged lawyer was burnt to death in Surjani Town on Tuesday in what police said was an accidental fire in his home.

The police said a room in the 80-square-yard home of Surjani Town was seen in blazes by area people, who first tried on their own to fight the fire and later called in the fire department. By the time, the police added, a fire tender arrived at the scene, the blaze had died down due to efforts of the neighbours.

“The fire did not last long, nor did it damage the house much,” said Inspector Iftikhar Ahmed Qureshi, SHO of the Surjani Town police station. “But within a few minutes it engulfed the study room of 67-year-old lawyer Mirza Wajid Hussain. He was apparently using candles for study due to scheduled loadshedding hours. However, it seems that he fell asleep and the fire accidentally spread from the candle to every corner of the room.”

He said the room was decorated with wooden furniture and books vulnerable to fire which caught the blaze instantly creating too much smoke for the man to survive and call for any help.

The body, with severe burn wounds, was moved to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

“The deceased was a lawyer but was not practising these days. He lived here alone as his two sons are settled abroad and the only daughter is living in PIB Colony with her family. We have informed his family and relatives. We have reasons to believe that it was an accident which claimed his life,” said the SHO of the Surjani Town police station.

Woman commits suicide

A 35-year-old woman committed suicide by hanging herself with a rope at her home in a Baldia Town locality on Tuesday within the remits of the Ittehad Town police station, an official said.

He said that the woman, identified as Sajida wife of Fazal Khan, committed suicide due to some domestic problems. The body was shifted to the Civil Hospital Karachi and later handed over to her family members.

Suspected criminals held

The Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, claimed to have arrested more than a dozen suspects wanted in different crimes ranging from street crimes to robberies to murders.

In a statement the paramilitary force said that the arrests were made in several raids in different areas, including Ibrahim Hyderi, Korangi, Saeedabad, Kharadar, Soldier Bazaar and Ferozabad.

“The Rangers have also recovered cash and valuables from the arrested suspects. During search and arrest, illegal arms were also recovered from the hideout of the arrested suspects,” said the statement.

Traffic law violators fined

The Karachi traffic police on Tuesday claimed to have challaned 3,507 violators of traffic laws and collected Rs759,150 in fine during its special campaign, APP adds.

According to a spokesman for the traffic police, they arrested 224 drivers under Section 279 the Pakistan Penal Code and the Motor Vehicle Ordinance.

The district South traffic police issued 471 tickets, City 401, Central 593, East 197, Korangi 228, West 1,257 and Malir 360.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2020