Karachi youth injured in alleged police firing, family demands justice

A 21-year-old man was injured in an alleged police firing incident in Nazimabad No. 3, Karachi, with his family rejecting the police claim

KARACHI: A 21-year-old man was injured in an alleged police firing incident in Nazimabad No. 3, Karachi, with his family rejecting the police claim that he was hit by suspects during an exchange of fire.

The injured youth, identified as Shuraim Khalid, was travelling with his cousin, Muhammad Tayyab, to purchase a motorcycle part when the incident occurred, according to the family. They alleged that police personnel opened fire on the two men without signalling them to stop.

Tayyab said the policemen approached them from behind and fired three shots without issuing any warning or asking them to pull over.

“They neither stopped us nor gave any signal; otherwise, we would have stopped,” Tayyab said, describing the incident. He claimed that one bullet passed close to his feet, while another struck Shuraim in the lower back.

According to the family, police personnel subsequently transported the injured youth to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for initial medical assistance. He was later shifted to Jinnah Hospital for further treatment.

The incident has raised concerns among the family, who have disputed the official account and demanded accountability from the personnel involved.

Family appeals for justice

Shuraim’s mother said her son was the sole breadwinner of the family and was preparing to get married. Expressing anguish over the incident, she questioned who would take responsibility if her son had lost his life.

“God forbid, if he had died or something had happened to him, would these people give a life in exchange for a life?” she asked.

Demanding justice, she called on the police officers who had taken her son to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital to appear before her and explain the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“I want justice. The police officers who took him to Abbasi should come before me,” she said.

Shuraim also appealed to police authorities for assistance with his medical treatment in a video statement recorded at the hospital.

He said he was facing difficulties after being injured in what he described as a police officer’s mistake. According to Shuraim, a private hospital was demanding at least Rs200,000 simply for admission.

“My request and appeal to the police officers is to cooperate with me in this, because the mistake lies with them,” he said, urging authorities to help him obtain the necessary treatment.

Police present a different account

Police officials have offered a different version of the incident, maintaining that the shooting took place during an encounter with suspected criminals.

According to the first information report (FIR) registered at Nazimabad police station on the complaint of Constable Shehraz, a police patrol spotted motorcyclists behaving suspiciously and signalled them to stop.

The FIR states that the suspects allegedly opened fire on the police party, prompting personnel to respond with retaliatory gunfire.

Police subsequently claimed that Shuraim was injured by a bullet fired by the suspects rather than by police personnel.

The conflicting accounts have left the circumstances of the shooting disputed, with the family insisting that the young man was targeted without warning and police maintaining that the injury occurred during an exchange of fire.

The family has demanded justice and assistance with Shuraim’s treatment. The supplied report does not establish independently which account of the shooting is accurate.