KARACHI: A senior superintendent of police was killed on Friday when unidentified gunmen opened fire his vehicle in...
KARACHI: A senior superintendent of police (SSP) was killed on Friday when unidentified gunmen opened fire his vehicle in Karachi.
The police officer, identified as Ejaz Haider who had formerly served as jail superintendent Hyderabad, was shot dead as the militants riding motorcycles fled after targeting his vehicle near Pehlwan Goth in Gulistan-e-Johar area of the city.
Police confirmed that one of the three women riding with Haider was also injured in the attack.
Sources told Geo News that Haider had last served as the SP Jail in Hyderabad and was recently transferred to Karachi. They said that Haider was waiting for his posting.
Police said Haider was shot from close range and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
The injured woman suffered a bullet wound and was currently receiving medical treatment at the hospital.
Taking notice of the incident, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the murder of the police officer and ordered authorities to arrest the culprits and bring them to justice.
The prime minister vowed that the operation against terrorists will continue with full force in Karachi.
Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah has taken notice of the SSPs murder. According to a spokesman, CM Qaim Ali Shah has summoned a report from IGP Sindh and directed that those involved in the murder of the SSP should be arrested.
Karachi has witnessed a recent spike in target-killings of policemen.
Haider is the third senior police officer to be gunned down in the city since the start of the month.
Last week, unidentified gunmen shot dead DSP Zulfiqar Ali Zaidi near Eidgah Ground in Shah Faisal Colony area.
Zaidi's killing came 10 days after the assassination of another senior police official, DSP Abdul Fatah Sangri, who was gunned down along with his driver and security guard in Gulshan-i-Hadeed area on May 1.
A day later, SSP Rao Anwar survived a hand-grenade attack in Steel Town area of Karachi.
Police detectives investigating the murders of Zaidi and Sangri believe that gunmen behind both attacks belong to the same banned militant outfit.
It was unclear who targeted Haider, but a police official said the murder appeared to be the result of a personal dispute.
SSP East Peer Mohammad Shah said the women accompanying Haider in the vehicle were not related to the officer, and that police was currently questioning them.