KARACHI, May 22: Two young sisters went missing on Thursday in Shah Latif Town, off the National Highway.

Police said the father of the girls, Bilqis, 10, and Safia, 8, lodged a complained at the Shah Latif police station that his daughters went to a nearby Madressah on Wednesday but did not return home.

An FIR (269/2008) was registered at the police station under Section 363 of the PPC. Police quoting area people said the girls were seen going to a beauty parlour run by Sumaira Odho, wife of Ismail Odho, a rickshaw driver living in the area.

On Thursday some people gathered in front of Sumaira’s home, apparently to harm her, but police intervened and took her into their protective custody. She reportedly told police that the girls had come to her parlour but left soon. She was not aware of their whereabouts, the woman told the police.

Meanwhile, a suspected bandit was killed and an associate of his was arrested in a wounded condition in a shootout with police in Lyari on Thursday.

Police said the suspects had arrived on a motorcycle at the Cheel Chowk and were busy in a holdup. Seeing a police party, they opened fire on them. Police returned fire, killing one suspect on the spot and wounding another. However, their third accomplice fled.