KARACHI, June 30: Another policeman was shot dead by unknown persons on Friday in a spate of serial target killings pushing the death toll of policemen to five in the last eight days and 10 in June.

The killings have spread panic and fear in the rank and file of the police department where investigators were still groping in the dark about the identity and motive of the individuals/group, who were carrying out these killings.

“Is it reaction to the Rehman Dakait’s arrest or what,” remarked a visibly shaken DSP after coming to the emergency ward of the Liaquat National Hospital where Friday’s victim Constable Muhammad Ashraf was taken, but pronounced dead on arrival.

Constable Muhammad Ashraf, 32, was heading to Gulshan 15-base from his residence in Landhi on a motorcycle having police registration number. As he reached Rashid Minhas Road via Drigh Road flyover, he was shot at from behind. The bullet hit him in the head and pierced through his cheek, hospital sources confirmed.

The incident occurred around 2:10pm when traffic was already thin on roads due to Friday prayers.

The five policemen killed and the one who escaped the attack in span of just eight days belonged to the ranks of sub-inspector, assistant sub-inspector and constable.

On Thursday, ASI Manzoor Awan was killed when he crossed Malir Bridge after returning from the Central Police Office on his motorcycle. He too was attacked from behind and the bullet pierced through his nose. Police said that he was posted in the investigation wing of the Quaidabad police station.

Since January, as many as 27 policemen have been killed in the city, according to police statistics.

The five policemen so far killed had no role in the ‘Karachi Operation’, they were apparently picked as random target, remarked a senior police officer requesting anonymity.

Earlier on June 23, two sub-inspectors were shot dead in a similar way.

Sub-Inspector Ejaz Husain suffered a bullet wound in the head near Liaquat Government College Malir, Saudabad. The wounded was rushed to the Jinnah Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.

Police said that Ejaz suffered a bullet in the neck from behind, the bullet pierced through his face.

Sub-Inspector Nadeem Khan Bangash posted at Al Falah police station was shot in the head at Shah Faisal Colony Flyover.

On June 25, ASI Allah Noor Khan of investigation branch was shot dead near Asna-i-Ashari Imambargah at S.M. Taufeeq Road.

ASI Nadeem Khan of the Site police station was shot dead at Banaras Chowk on June 26.

Head Constable Muhammad Ashraf of Aziz Bhatti police station was shot at Rehman Bakery near airport on Sharea Faisal. Luckily, he survived the attack even though bullet pierced through his neck.

He has turned out to be the only victim to have survived the latest spate of target killings.

Following Friday’s killing, CCPO Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui called a meeting of DIGs at his office to discuss the situation.

When asked if the killings were a reaction to Rehman Dakait’s arrest, Mr Siddiqui said that his (Rehman’s) men had a history of working with other groups. “We are looking into this aspect,” the city police chief said.

He said that three teams of operations, investigation and specialised units had been formed and assigned the task to solve these cases.

The statistics provided by the police department showed that as many as 20 policemen were killed last year, 26 in the year 2004, 19 in 2003, and 17 in the year 2002.