Five arrested after youth shot dead in Karachi's DHA area

KARACHI: A young man was shot dead while two of his companions sustained gunshot injuries on Sunday after a minor accident in the upscale Defence Housing Authority area, ARY News reported. 

The victim, identified as Zafir aged 18 driving his Mercedes car when he accidentally struck a heavy biker Dr Raheem in Do Darya area of DHA’s Phase-VIII and sped away.

However, armed men in a sports utility vehicle (SUV) suddenly chased and intercepted the car on the Sea View Road. The teenage victim and his companions was present in the car when armed men inside the SUV opened fire.

The car was shot as many as nine times, killing the victim and injuring his companion, police said.

Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal took notice of the incident and summoned a report from DIG South. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) South Javed Akbar Riaz said they have acquired CCTV footage to investigate the matter.

Later, five men were arrested after a police raided a house near Khalid Bin Walid Road.

SSP South said that two vehicles including the SUV have been confiscated. A teenage was among those arrested. Police have also recovered weapons from their possession. The arrested include the son and nephew of a well-known car dealer.

SSP South said that main suspect Khawar Burney who was inside the SUV opened fire instead of their guard. He said that Zarif was struck in the head and died on the spot, while another named Zaid was injured in the incident.

He said that there is no reported connection between the suspect and the heavy bike rider Dr Raheem, and the SUV drivers probably believed that the Mercedes car had struck and was fleeing from the scene. The heavy biker said he has no knowledge of the incident.

Later, a case was filed at the Sahil police station in the presence of the victim’s father. Their counsel speaking to media said that they are not satisfied with the police investigation as terrorism clauses were not included in the First Information Report (FIR).