A university student lost his life but managed to kill two suspected muggers in a gun battle near New Sabzi Mandi on Superhighway early Wednesday morning, according to police and his relatives.
On the same day, another citizen fatally shot a suspected robber in Korangi.
Sheikh Muhammad Nihal, 22, and his uncle Sheikh Muhammad Ayaz were returning to their home in North Nazimabad on a motorbike after attending a dinner late Tuesday night. SITE-Superhighway SHO Zulfiqar Bhangwar reported that they were intercepted by armed muggers, also on a motorbike, near Jamali Pul. Sheikh Nihal, who had a licensed pistol, drew his weapon and began firing. The muggers fired back, resulting in a shootout where both suspects, Nihal, and his uncle were hit.
Police stated that both suspects and Nihal died at the scene.
The bodies and the injured were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where doctors reported that Sheikh Ayaz was in stable condition with a bullet wound to his hand.
Nihal was a student in the architecture department at Nazeer Husain University and the only son of his parents. His funeral prayers were held at a local mosque in North Nazimabad amid emotional scenes. A grief-stricken uncle of the victim lamented that the city had been left at the mercy of armed robbers.
Ali Khurshidi, Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly, who attended the funeral, expressed concern over the alarming rise in killings of innocent citizens by robbers. He urged the governor and other authorities to take immediate action to curb street crime in Karachi.
So far, 68 citizens have been shot dead by robbers in Karachi during the first five months of this year, although police claim the number is 52.
In a separate incident on Wednesday evening, a suspected robber was shot dead by a citizen in Korangi. Zaman Town SHO Malik Ashraf reported that armed pillion riders intercepted a car driver near Coast Guard Chowrangi. The car driver, who was armed, challenged the suspects. During the exchange of gunfire, one suspect was shot in the chest and died at the scene, while his accomplice fled on the motorbike. A passer-by, Kamran Taj, 45, also sustained a bullet wound to his shoulder. The citizen who fired the shot left the scene after the incident.
The deceased suspect was identified as Shahnawaz alias Shani, who had a prior criminal record and had been previously arrested by the Pak Colony police. The body and injured victims were taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.
