KARACHI: Four persons were shot at and wounded by armed muggers in different parts of the city on Saturday, police said.

The PIB Colony police said two men were travelling on a motorbike when armed pillion riders indicated them to stop. But as the men tried to speed away, the muggers opened fire on them and fled without any loot.

Area SHO Faisal Gul Khawaja said that as a result, 35-year-old Farhan Fareed and 37-year-old Shoaib Sardar suffered bullet wounds. They were shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) for treatment.

In another incident, two young men were shot and wounded by robbers. Samanabad police said Azeemullah, 19, and Mohammed Hayee, 20, were shot and wounded during a robbery near Mamji hospital. They were taken to the ASH for treatment.

Ringleader of ‘Afghan gang’ held

Police claimed to have arrested a wanted criminal in an alleged encounter in Lyari area on Saturday.

They said that Haseebullah alias Karzai was the ringleader of an Afghan gang of robbers and he was allegedly involved in killing of police and Rangers personnel.

City SSP Amjad Hayat said the encounter took place between the Kalri police and the dacoits where after an exchange of gunfire, suspect Haseebullah alias Karzai was arrested in wounded condition. He added that Haseebullah was the ringleader of an inter-provincial gang known as ‘Afghan gang’ which comprised around 15 members.

“The Afghan dacoit gang had established a reign of terror in the city as they used to kill and injure the citizens over slight resistance,” the SSP added.

During initial probe, the suspect revealed that the said gang had been involved among other crimes in killing of police and Rangers personnel as well.

The suspect along with his accomplices had shot dead police constable Wahid Pervez during a robbery in North Karachi on Feb 13.

Furthermore, he along with his accomplices Ahmadullah Afghani and Khan had also shot dead a Rangers personnel, Asif, over resistance during a robbery.

The members of the gang have remained involved in several other killings and attempted murders during various robberies, including a recent robbery at Sarafa Bazaar. One member of that gang, identified as Bilal, had expertise in preparing ‘petrol bombs,’ added the SSP.

Held suspect Haseebullah would flee to Afghanistan after committing crimes in Karachi. He also used to operate the gang from Afghanistan.

A video of this gang had also gone viral on social media last month, in which one suspect was seen caught by an angry mob who had tied him with an electric pole but his accomplices got him released from captivity.

Some members of this gang have already been killed and others arrested.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2024