SAHIWAL / BAHAWALPUR: One suspect was killed and another was arrested in injured condition while a station house officer (SHO) was also injured in two separate alleged encounters in different parts of the province.
In one incident, a joint Vehari Police and Crime Control Department (CCD) team claimed that a wanted criminal was killed in an encounter and a police SHO also suffered serious injuries during the confrontation.
According to Vehari DPO’s spokesperson, the encounter was held in Mujahid Colony in Burewala on Friday when the joint team launched an operation against six dangerous dacoits.
He claimed that the suspects climbed on the rooftops and opened indiscriminate fire on the police team, which continued for some time.
Police claimed that after the firing stopped, one suspect was found dead by the firing of his own accomplices, while a bullet hit in the neck of Burewala City SHO Rao Yasir Nawaz.
He was shifted to the Burewala THQ Hospital, but due to his critical condition, he was rushed to the Nishtar Hospital, Multan.
The spokesperson said the deceased suspect was identified as Zafar Iqbal Bhatti, a resident of Chak 116/EB, and he was wanted in several cases of dacoity at different police stations. His five accomplices had managed to flee under the cover of darkness, he added.
The Burewala City police had registered separate cases against the fleeing suspects and special police teams had been assigned to arrest them.
In a separate incident, police claimed to have arrested an alleged drug smuggler in injured condition after an encounter near the Barshan Bridge on the Yousafwala-Noor Shah Road on Friday night.
According to the police, a police party headed by ASI Muhammad Saleem attempted to stop two suspected drug smugglers on a motorcycle at a checkpoint on the Kacha-Pakka Noor Shah Road.
Police claimed the suspects opened fire on the police and fled. The police team at 73/4-R police post alerted the wireless control, following which two additional police parties moved in and cordoned off the area.
When confronted by the police, the suspects allegedly resorted to direct firing and the team returned fire. After the exchange of gunfire ceased, a search operation was launched and one suspect, identified as Abid Aabi, a resident of Chak 69/4-R, was found in seriously injured condition and was taken into custody. His accomplice managed to escape in the dark, police claimed.
Police claimed to have recovered an unregistered motorcycle and an illegal pistol from the possession of the arrested suspect. He was shifted to the Noor Shah RHC for treatment.
The Noor Shah police registered a case on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Naseer Ahmad and started investigations.
Meanwhile, the Crime Control Department (CCD) arrested a suspected robber in connection with the murder of a motorcyclist 36 days after the incident.
According to details, on the night of Sept 17, three-armed robbers attempted to stop motorcyclist Muhammad Imran near the 34/12-L Morr on the Burewala-Chichawatni Road. Police claimed that when he did not stop, the suspects opened fire, critically injuring him.
The victim was shifted to the Sahiwal Teaching Hospital and succumbed to his injuries three days later. The three suspects had slipped away from the scene after the incident.
The Chichawatni Saddar police had registered a case and later transferred the investigation to the Sahiwal CCD.
Police claimed that during investigation, CCD Inspector Khalid Mansoor traced the case and arrested one Afzal Rajana of Chak 39/12-L.
Police claimed the suspect had confessed to the crime during interrogation. On the suspect’s identification, police also claimed to have recovered an illegal pistol used in the offence from his village.
The Sahiwal CCD police station registered a separate case on the complaint of Inspector Khalid Mansoor while the suspect had been sent to jail on judicial remand.
Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2026
