KARACHI, Nov 29: A woman was shot at and wounded in Lyari on Thursday after gangsters’ demand for money was rejected by businessmen, including the victim’s husband.

Police and family members described the woman’s condition as critical.

Witnesses said about six gangsters arrived at the Shakir Goods Transport near Al Jameel Hotel in Kalakot and demanded money from the transporter. Fed up with the increasing extortion, he refused to meet their demand. His stand emboldened Bashir Ahmed Mughal of the Bashir Ahmed Goods Transport, neighboring the Shakir Goods Transport, who also refused to pay money to the gangsters. Their refusal sparked an exchange of hot words between the two groups and provoked the gangsters to open fire on the transporters.

“Hearing the gunshots Bashir’s wife rushed out of her home, situated on the first floor of the building housing their goods transport business,” said an area resident. A bullet hit her, he said, adding that later he saw the injured woman lying in a pool of blood in front of her home.

The young gangsters escaped leaving the injured and the family in shock. The victim was taken to the Civil Hospital, where the doctors termed her condition critical.“Later, she was taken to the Aga Khan University Hospital for treatment,” said Azam Khan, the Kalakot SHO. “After the incident we reached the crime scene and discovered the gangsters’ den. They, however, fled the scene after an encounter but we found an AK-47 abandoned there.”The SHO claimed that the criminals were associated with Mullah Nawaz and Amir Dada and often attacked woman who refused to pay them extortion money.

“We have reactivated our informers’ network and that’s why we acted promptly to trace them and seized their gun,” he added.