KARACHI: An unarmed young man, who was allegedly carrying betel-nuts (chhalia) in his car, was shot dead by police when he did not stop the vehicle in Orangi Town on Saturday.

The incident triggered a strong protest by victim’s relatives, prompting the authorities to take notice and ordered the arrest of the policeman who shot the youth.

West-SSP Mahzor Ali told Dawn that during checking, the Pakistan Bazaar police indicated a car driver to stop. However, the man tried to speed away. The police chased him and a policeman opened fire on the car from behind and the bullet hit the man, later identified as Ajmal.

He was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival, he added.

The SSP said that when the car was checked, it emerged that a significant quantity of betel-nuts was being ‘smuggled’ through the vehicle. He said it might be the reason that the victim tried to escape.

He said he had taken notice of the incident and ordered the arrest of the policeman, Ahmed, for opening fire on the vehicle.

He said that the policeman was arrested and booked in an FIR registered under Section 319 (manslaughter) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The family and friends of the victims staged a protest demonstration outside the office of the SSP-West and demanded that the policeman be booked under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the PPC instead of manslaughter.

However, the SSP said that the police constable had no ‘intention’ of killing him as he resorted to firing only to get the car stopped for checking.

He, however, said that the victim had no past criminal record.

Published in Dawn, September 24rd, 2023