KARACHI: Two suspected robbers were shot dead in an alleged encounter in Korangi in the early hours of Sunday morning, police said.

However, relatives of one of the deceased persons staged a protest demonstration in Quaidabad on Sunday evening and alleged that the police shot 17-year-old Arbaz seven times from a very close range in a “staged” encounter.

The police said that the encounter took place between the police and the bandits at 4-Star Ground in Sector-50. After an exchange of gunfire, two suspects — later identified as Sameer and Arbaz — were gunned down. The police claimed to have recovered two pistols, mobile phones and a motorcycle from their custody.

Korangi SSP Hassan Sardar said that the both the suspects were fleeing after looting a citizen at Ghaus Pak Road when a head constable of the Zaman Town police station challenged them. In an exchange of gunfire, both the suspects suffered bullet wounds and a mob overpowered and beat them. Both the suspects died on the spot.

Later in the evening, a large number of relatives and workers of different parties carried the coffin of Arbaz staged a sit-in at Daud Chowrangi in Quaidabad.

They demanded that an inquiry be conducted into the incident and an FIR be lodged against the policemen responsible for the “staged” encounter.

Former PPP lawmaker Amanullah Mehsud told the media at the sit-in that Arbaz was just 17 years old and had no criminal record. He said he was shot seven times in the chest from a close range. He accused the police of killing an ‘innocent’ person just to show their performance.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2024