KARACHI - Unidentified gunmen opened fire in Baldia Town area, killing two policemen while six people including a PTI local government candidate were shot dead in separate incidents of violence here on Sunday.
According to police, two cops namely Abdul Rahim and Muhammad Khan were deputed for security of Razzaq Boneri, a local Awami National Party leader in Madina Town area of Baldia Town. Suddenly, the assailants appeared there and hurled a hand grenade at the shop owned by Boneri and opened indiscriminate fire, injuring the cops. The injured policemen were hurried to a nearby hospital but they succumbed to injuries on the way. Police said that the assailants also managed to take away arms of the cops. The bodies were shifted to a local hospital for medico-legal formalities. On Saturday, three policemen were gunned down in different parts of the city.
Buneri had contested general elections on PS-91 and came under attack for the fourth time for refusing to pay extortion money. After a series of attacks and threats, Buneri was given a police protection about five months ago. He was at his home at the time of attack.
ANP leader Shahi Syed condemned the attack, demanding the government to take stern action against the outlaws involved in the incident.
According to Baldia Town SP Malik Muhammad Ehsan, the outlawed TTP is involved in the attack and other target killing of police personnel. He said that the terrorists would be arrested and brought to book at any cost.
Meanwhile, funeral prayer of cops Lal Aleem and Muhammad Younus, who were gunned down on Saturday, was offered at Police Headquarters, Garden.  Sindh IGP Shahid Nadeem Baloch, Additional IG, Karachi Shahid Hayyat and several senior officers attended the funeral.
In 2013, at least 172 policemen lost their lives in several targeted attacks in Karachi. The Karachi police have announced a bounty of Rs1 million for providing information about the culprits involved in the law enforcers’ killings. City police chief Shahid Hayyat said that identity of the informer would not be disclosed.
Separately, a PTI local government candidate was shot dead at Rashidabad. Police said 30-year-old Qari Muhammad Jaffar, who was a rickshaw driver, was attacked by some unidentified motorcycle riders. Motive behind the murder is yet to be ascertained.
Meanwhile, a man who was later identified as Nazar Shaikh, 50, was shot dead and another injured in a firing incident in Surjani locality. The deceased was said to be affiliated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional. The body and injured were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
In another incident, a factory owner was shot dead in Qasba Colony. Police said that Iqbal was attacked by some armed men in Qasba Colony. He was hurried to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where he succumbed to injuries during treatment.
Two men namely Ameer Bakhsh and Shafi Muhammad were shot dead while Ali Muhammad Khaskheli sustained bullet wounds during an armed clash took place between two groups at a marriage ceremony in the premises of Mochko police. Further investigation was underway.
Qari Liaquat, a prayer-leader of Masjid-e-Khizarul Islam in Baldia Town’s Saeedabad, was shot dead by unidentified assailant. SP Malik Muhammad Ehsan said that a target killer first offered prayer behind Qari Liaquat, and later escaped after shooting him multiple times. The deceased belonged to Barelvi school of thought and was a local leader of Nizam-e-Mustafa Party. Further investigation is underway.
LEAs arrest 27 suspects:  Police and Rangers claimed to have apprehended 27 suspects during the ongoing targeted raids in the city.
The Rangers teams conducted raids in Landhi, Essa Nagri, Godhra, Gulshan-e-Ghazi in Baldia, Gadap, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Ranchore Line and Ali Basti, and arrested 15 alleged criminals including target killers. A huge cache of weapons was also recovered from them.
Separately, at least 12 more suspects were apprehended during targeted raids conducted by police in Sharifabad, Liaquatabad and Orangi neighbourhood. The identities of the suspects were not disclosed and they were later moved to undisclosed location for further questioning.