KARACHI: A suspected robber was shot dead and another wounded by a citizen on Abul Hasan Ispahani Road in Gulshan-i-Iqbal near Abbas Town early on Wednesday morning.

The Sachal police said that two gunmen intercepted a car and snatched valuables from Zohaib Ali. When they were fleeing after the robbery, the citizen took out his licensed pistol and opened fire on them, injuring both the suspects.

The police claimed that one of the suspects, in his early 20s, died on the spot. His body was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where his identity could not be ascertained immediately.

The injured suspect, identified as Abdullah Shah, 22, was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for treatment, said an Edhi Foundation spokesperson.

Three teenagers injured by robbers

Three teenagers were shot and wounded by suspected robbers on resistance in a Landhi area late on Tuesday night, police said.

Zaeem Asad, 17, Shahzaib, 18, and Sami Faheem, 16, were taken to the JPMC for medical treatment.

The police added that the robbers tried to snatch mobile phones and other valuables from the teenagers near Karbala Ground in Sector 5-G, Landhi-6. As they put up resistance, the suspects opened fire on them and fled.

Dr Seemin Jamali, executive director of the JPMC, said “all patients are vitally stable”.

Two injured in ‘encounter’

Three suspected robbers, two of them in an injured condition, were arrested after an ‘encounter’ in PECHS, Block-6.

The Tipu Sultan police said that three suspects were looting people near Model Park late on Tuesday night. As they were fleeing in a rickshaw and on a motorbike, a patrolling police party arrived there.

On seeing the police, the suspects resorted to firing in an attempt to escape. After an exchange of fire, three suspects, including two wounded, were arrested.

The injured suspects, M. Imran, 37, and Abid Musharraf, 35, and their third accomplice M. Nasir, 36, were taken to the JPMC for treatment.

The police claimed to have seized two TT pistols, a revolver with eight rounds, a motorbike and a rickshaw from their custody.

Currency notes brokers held

Police detained on Wednesday at least nine brokers of fresh currency notes in old city areas on charges of violation of Covid SOPs.

Officials said that as the State Bank had not issued new currency notes to the banks this year reportedly on account of Covid SOPs, several brokers carrying packets of new notes emerged in old city areas, particularly at Boulton Market, where they were seen selling new notes.

Some policemen also purchased packets of new notes. However, when a video went viral, the police higher authorities took its notice and launched a crackdown on street currency dealers and detained seven persons for violation of Covid SOPs.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2021