Daily Times

KARACHI: Mobile shops in Saddar area remained closed on Monday following the killing of a young shopkeeper at the hands of muggers when he offered resistance during a robbery bid. A 24-year-old shopkeeper, Owais, was shot dead by robbers when he offered resistance during a robbing bid on Sunday. He was shot once in his abdomen and died shortly after the incident. The two robbers who were behind the incident were also killed in an exchange of firing with police. The mobile market associations had announced to shut their businesses down in a protest against the rising incidents of street crimes at the markets, especially on Sunday and against the killing of the their fellow shopkeepers. Scores of shopkeepers also staged a protest against the incident and demanded proper police protection. “We are not demanding anything against the law,” said Rizwan Irfan, Electronics Market Association president.

On the other hand, Preedy police have registered a case against the robbers killed over the killing of the shopkeeper. A first information report was registered at the Preedy Police Station on behalf of the victim’s brother, Suleman. Police have also placed the sections of the murder, attempt to murder, police encounter and robbery in the FIR. The complainant in the FIR said that the robbers had snatched at least three cell phones from a shop and opened firing on his brother when his brother offered resistance. Following the incident, one of the robbers was beaten to death by a mob, while the other one was killed in an exchange of firing with police.

Published in Daily Times, January 9^th 2017.