Seven policemen martyred in Karachi gun attacks
The shooting incidents took place in Orangi Town area of Karachi.
KARACHI (Dunya News / AFP) – Seven policemen, guarding polio team were killed in two different attacks in Orangi Town, Dunya News reported Wednesday.
Feroz Shah, a senior police official said that eight gunmen carried out the killings in two separate attacks in the city‘s western Orangi Town neighbourhood.
"The gunmen first opened fire on three policemen in the streets of Orangi Town, killing them all," he said, adding: "Later they shot dead four policemen, who were sitting in a police mobile van" a few streets away.
Abdul Kareem, an official in Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where the bodies were taken, also confirmed the casualties.
Authorities concerned have stated that all polio workers remained unharmed in the attacks. Anti-polio drive that was underway in the area has been suspended until indefinite period of time.
Pakistan is one of only two countries where polio, a crippling childhood disease, remains endemic. Attempts to eradicate it have been badly hit by militant attacks on immunisation teams that have claimed nearly 80 lives since December 2012.
No group has claimed responsibility for the shooting yet.
Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif has condemned the attack and stated that police are rendering sacrifices for peace in Sindh’s capital.
Sindh Home Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal, in an exclusive talk with Dunya News vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. The minister confirmed that the personnel were deployed for polio team’s security.
He further said that different institutions of the country are in state of war against terrorism.
Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah has also summoned a report of the firing incidents from Sindh Police Inspector General (IG).
Rangers Sindh Director General (DG) Major General Bilal Akbar asserted that all polio workers in the city would be provided protection while the attackers would be caught soon. Sacrifices of the martyred police personnel would not go in vain, he added.
The Director General said that law enforcement agencies catch miscreants before they get a chance to execute an attack however, untoward incidents that surface would be countered as well. He said that it was too soon to give out any more details.
Police IG, AD Khawaja announced Rs 50 lac reward for anyone who provides information about the attackers while Rs 20 lac compensation money for each of the bereaved families. He also promised that two members of each grieving family would be given government jobs.
Karachi is the capital of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province and has been the site of frequent militant attacks in the past.
The Rangers as well as the police have been engaged in a three-year long anti-militant and crime operation in Karachi and come under attack by militants frequently.
The targeted operation against criminal elements in Pakistan’s commercial hub was initiated back in September 2013 after the federal cabinet empowered Rangers to lead a targeted advance with the support of police against criminals already identified by federal military and civilian agencies for their alleged involvement in targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism.
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