KARACHI: At least six policemen were killed and several people injured when police vehicles came under attack near the residence of Muhajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H) chief Afaq Ahmed in Karachi’s Landhi neighbourhood on Saturday night, DawnNews reported.
TV reports suggest that the first attack occurred in Landhi number 6 area when unidentified miscreants hurled a hand grenade inside a police mobile positioned outside Afaq Ahmed's house. Three policemen were killed in the incident.
The MQM-H leader remained safe in the attack as he was not currently living at his Landhi residence.
Later, another police mobile was attacked near Landhi Hospital when unidentified gunmen opened fire on it killing three police personnel on the spot. A passerby was also injured in the incident.
Injured were shifted to Jinnah Hospital in reportedly critical condition.
“At least six policemen were killed when unknown gunmen on motorcycles fired at their patrol vehicles with automatic weapons and threw a hand grenade at one vehicle,” senior police official Munir Shaikh told AFP confirming the incidents.
Shaikh said the police were investigating who was behind the attack, adding that nobody had claimed responsibility for the shootings.
Meanwhile, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA Muhammad Kamran Farooqi came under attack when unknown gunmen opened fire on his car in North Karachi.
Farooqi escaped the attack unhurt, however, his personal guard sustained wounds.
Karachi, the largest metropolitan city of Pakistan, is riddled with targeted killings, gang wars, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism.
Targeted operations led by Rangers with the support of police are ongoing in the city under a directive issued by the federal government against criminals already identified by federal, military and civilian agencies.
Earlier this month a Taliban suicide attacker killed one of Pakistan's best-known police commanders, famed for his fearless work tackling militants in the city.
Chaudhry Aslam, the head of the criminal investigation department who had survived numerous assassination attempts in the past, died along with two other officers when a bomber targeted a police convoy on an expressway in eastern Karachi.