Two martyred in 2016's first attack on traffic police

KARACHI: Two policemen were martyred on Saturday near Ayesha Manzil while performing their duty. According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers came riding a motorcycle and fled with the policeman's official weapon after the attack.

This is the years first shooting targeting traffic policemen. In 2015, six traffic policemen were killed in as many attacks by unknown assailants. 

Following the trend of attacking traffic policemen, the Sindh Police had issued bullet-proof jackets, submachine guns  (SMG) and standard issue pistols to the traffic policemen on duty in Karachi. 

In the latest incident, both policemen Shakil Ahmed and Mohammed Akram were performing their duties near Ayesha Manzil. Following protocol, both were wearing their bullet-proof jackets and one was armed with an SMG. According to eyewitness accounts, two men dressed in all black and wearing helmets came riding motorcycle and shot the policeman in the head. As the second policeman tried to retaliate he too was gunned down.

An eyewitness told Geo News, after shooting the policemen the attackers calmly picked up the official issued SMG and rode away.