KARACHI: A passer-by was killed in what police described as an incident of crossfire between armed muggers and police in a Korangi area in the small hours of Sunday morning.

However, the victim’s family staged a protest demonstration and submitted an application seeking registration of a murder case against police for allegedly killing 32-year-old passer-by, Wasif Riaz, in Mehran Town.

DIG-East Muquddus Haider said that three policemen were arrested after an FIR was lodged against them on the complaint of the victim’s family.

Giving details of the incident, he said a police patrol signalled some motorcyclists to stop in Mehran Town within the remit of the Sharafi Goth police station. However, they allegedly resorted to firing and during an exchange of gunfire passer-by Riaz suffered multiple bullet wound and died, he said.

The DIG said the suspects, however, abandoned their motorbike and escaped. The bike was recovered by the policemen and it was snatched from the Landhi area around one month ago, he said.

The body was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where Additional Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said that the doctors were not allowed to conduct a post-mortem examination. Only external examination of the body was conducted, which revealed only the entry and exit of one bullet.She said the police brought the body to the mortuary around 4.30am.

The incident angered victim’s relatives and area people, who staged a protest outside the JPMC, which was also joined by an MNA of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

He said that two FIRs — one against the police and the other relating to the encounter with muggers — of the case were registered.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2021