Wasim Akram's vehicle fired upon in Karachi

KARACHI: The vehicle of former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram was fired upon in the Karsaz area of the city in what police described as an incident fuelled by ‘road rage’.

The fast bowler remained safe in the incident.

Wasim told Geo News that he was on his way to the National Stadium to attend a bowling camp when a vehicle rammed into his car from behind.

According to what the cricketing legend told Geo News and the police, after the accident Wasim Akram got out of his car expecting the other car to also park on the side. However the driver of the car that hit him did not step out, instead the owner came out and chambered his pistol at Akram.

The crowd that had gathered told the pistol-wielding man that it was Wasim Akram the former cricket captain that he was aiming at; the cricketer recalled that if the crowd hadn’t told the shooter he was aiming at a celebrity he might have shot at him.

The fast-bowler said he was not facing any particular threats. He did however note the registration number of the other vehicle which he gave to the police.

Initial reports had said the gunman did not aim at the cricketer. But Akram later said the man had been about to shoot him when someone revealed who he was.

"He tried to shoot me, his gun was pointing at me, then people told him my identity and he fired at the side of my car," Akram told reporters.

"Had the people not told him about me, he would have shot me."

Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) East Munir Sheikh said the police has retrieved the CCTV footage of the incident and will identify the attackers with the help of the excise department. Police shared the registration number of the vehicle.

Police later raided a residence in Karachi’s upscale DHA neighbourhood in search of the suspected attacker. However, they found a maroon Honda instead of white Suzuki with the same registration plate, which they took into their custody for further investigation.

Police official said the seized car has nothing to do with the incident, adding that either Akram made a mistake in noting down the registration plate of the suspected car or the suspect was clever enough to roam around with loaded weapon with a fake number plate.

Police claimed that the accused would be arrested within next two days.