KARACHI: A policeman was shot dead and another wounded in an armed attack on a police check post off M-9 motorway on Monday.

SSP-East Dr Farrukh Raza said that the police had recently set up 29 pickets to provide security to the buyers and traders at the sacrificial animal market on Northern Bypass.

Officials said that armed assailants opened fire at the policemen deputed at the check post near the Jamali bridge and in an exchange of gunfire Constable Mohammed Yaseen was killed while Constable Salman Abbas suffered bullet wounds.

The SSP said that both the policemen were performing their duty at the check post near Ganna Mandi within the remit of the Sohrab Goth police station when the assailants attacked them.

The body of the slain cop was shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital while the wounded policeman was taken to the Aga Khan University Hospital for treatment.

When asked as to whether it was an act of terrorism or targeted killing, the SSP said that the armed attack appeared to be in “retaliation” by the criminals as the check posts were creating “hindrances” in their criminal activities.

“We are working on it and ground intelligence is also being collected to bring the culprits to justice,” the SSP said.

The police said that the martyred constable originally hailed from district Khairpur.

Only on Saturday, a policeman was gunned down and three others were hurt in a targeted attack at an eatery in Patel Para.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2024