Women used as human shields in Lyari battle

Karachi: Intense firing between the police and unknown assailants took place along Maari Pur road on Friday.

The police fired gun shots, tear gas and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators.

At least one man was killed and a woman injured.

The road became a battlefield when the police — already striving to disperse the protesters — encountered gunshots from the three and four–storied buildings.

“They are using women as human shields and that is our key hurdle to retaliate their offence,” Tariq Dharejo, the police in charge told the media.

Narrow interweaving streets were also one of the hurdles for the police to move their vehicles and armoured personnel cars (APCs).

“But now we are proceeding to handle the two rival groups effectively,” Dharejo said.

Police sources said this morning a man named Shoaib Hangoro was killed in the firing in Agra Taj Colony creating tension in the areas. Another man was killed of the firing of the rangers.

Another body was brought to the hospital from the same area.

The protest got intensified after the funeral of one of the victim the residents of Lyari today resumed their protest which they put off yesterday. The protest against the gangs in Lyari began from the Maari Pur Road. Later on the protesters proceeded towards the chief minister house and rallied there for hours.

Sources said that dialogues were held among the representatives of the rival groups and they agreed on a truce.

Meanwhile, paramilitary rangers on Friday carried a grand operation in the western district of the city, arresting a potential suicide bomber along with 11 suspected activists of a banned militant group and recovered a substantial quantity of weapons and explosive material.

The rangers operation began this morning at the Sultanabad area of Mango Pir in which some 1500 soldiers including female officials participated. All the exit and entry points were cordoned by the rangers to check movement of the outlaws.

Sources said that the crackdown was planned after intelligence reports suggested presence of the militants in the areas who were responsible for many terror activities in the city.

During the search operation at least 11 suspects including a potential suicide bomber was arrested. A dozen of improvised bombs made in tennis balls were also recovered besides other assault weapons.

The crackdown was going on till the filing of this report.