KARACHI - Bandits managed to rob Rs4.7 million in two separate bank heists within an hour in the metropolis on Friday.
In the first incident, a bank was robbed at Paposh Nagar locality when a group of bandits barged into the branch at around 10 am. They first snatched weapons from the two private security guards and a police constable deployed at the bank. Later, they held the bank staff and customers hostage on the gunpoint.
“One of them wore shalwar kameez while rest of others were wearing trousers shirts and speaking each other in Urdu,” said investigating officer Qurban Ali.
Bandits used three motorbikes and a car, and managed to loot Rs32,50,938. A case has been registered against unidentified persons on behalf of bank manager, Abdul Wahid.
As the security agencies were engaged in probing the bank robbery, six armed man barged into another local bank branch in Bufferzone area within the limits of Taimuria Police Station at around 10:30am. Security guard Ramzan Asghar lost his life as he offered resistance when the bandits were trying to get inside the branch.
Police said that two private security guards were guarding the bank while one of them identified as Sharafat hailing from Swat assisted the robbers. “Sharafat helped the robbers completing their swift operation and also escaped along with them,” said investigating officer Mohammad Sajid. The officer further said that the robbers, clad in shalwar kameez and pent shirts, were speaking with each other in Pashtu.
The bandits managed to loot away around Rs1.5 million, said the official adding that the robbers arrived at the bank on a white high-roof car and also took away the CCTV footage. A case has been registered against unidentified persons on behalf of bank manager, Rao Faisal.
Special Investigation Unit chief SP Farooq Awan said that the investigation was underway; however, the initial investigation suggests that the separate groups of robbers were behind both the incidents.
CONFISCATION OF METALLIC KITE STOCKS ORDERED
APP adds: Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui on Friday ordered immediate confiscation of all available stock of metallic kite strings and crackdown against manufacturers and sellers of the hazardous item.
Expressing his deep sympathy with the parents and families of the children who lost their lives during past three months in the city due to the string, the Commissioner said stringent action would be ensured to avert unfortunate instances.
“It is also all the more painful to realise that children who lost their lives were themselves not flying the kites but just came across the killer string,” he said.
Commissioner Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui said no such sport could be allowed that poses risks to precious human lives or hazardous material is used for its application.
“The administration is not against affordable recreational activities including kite flying but extreme caution has to be ensured by the people who are keen to enjoy kite flying,” said Commissioner Karachi.
He urged the enthusiasts to use regular strings made of safe cotton threads and paper made kites.
The Commissioner Karachi ordered all deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners to ensure regular visits, along with area police, to all shopping areas and godowns in their respective areas of jurisdiction and confiscate metallic string used for kite flying.
The Commissioner also ordered strict legal action against manufacturers and retailers found to be preparing, supplying or selling the hazardous products despite repeated reminders of restriction imposed on the preparation and availability of the hazardous string across the province.
AMEND TO CHILD LABOUR LAWS SPPM: PPP
PPP senior leader Taj Haider said on Friday that amendment is being introduced in the Employment of Children Act for elimination of child labour so as to persuade the child toward seeking education.
He said this while speaking at a seminar organised by the Society for Protection of Rights of the Child (SPARC), said a statement.
Justice (Retd) Ghous Muhammad, Joint Director PILER, Zulfiqar Shah and Provincial Manager SPARC, Ms Nazra Jahan also spoke.
Taj Haider said that imparting free education to children between 5 to 16 years is responsibility of the state under Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan.
Addressing the occasion, Zulfiqar Shah said a survey will be conducted in the country at government level to obtain correct figures about child labour. Conventional and un-conventional means be adopted during the survey, he added.
Ms Nazra Jahan said according to an international report, around 12 million children are working as child labour in Pakistan and the number is increasing day by day.
She said Pakistan is the second country having largest number of those children who do not go to school.
She also called upon the government to introduce amendment in the
labour laws to eliminate child labour practice in Pakistan.