Five policemen were killed and another injured when unidentified armed persons stormed a police station in Gulistan-e-Jauhar and opened indiscriminate fire. The incident took place at around 4:30am on Sunday, police sources said.
The attackers who were riding in four vehicles numbered about a dozen and were carrying automatic weapons.
Inspector General Police, Sindh, Syed Kamal Shah told newsmen that several armed persons arrived at Gulistan-e-Jauhar police station before the sunrise in couple of vehicles and entered its premises wielding arms in their hand.
They were chanting slogans that they will not spare the police personnel and opened indiscriminate fire on policemen on duty.
Five policemen present in two rooms died on the spot. Another policeman namely Muhammad Hasan Jatoi, who was offering prayers in another room, was injured while confronting the assailants. He was shifted to a hospital.
He fired on the attackers with his gun. As a result, one attacker was hit. However, it could not be ascertained whether he died or not. However, the attackers managed to take him with them.
There were only seven policemen present in the police station.
The deceased police officials were: Sub Inspector Umeed Ali Mirani, Head Constables Mohammad Sarfraz, Ismail Ahmed, Ashfaq, and George Ghulam.
Two accused, locked up in the police station on the charge of robbery, said they were sleeping when firing started.
They said the number of the attackers was about a dozen and they were armed with automatic weapons.
One of the vehicles used by attackers has been located in Saudabad area, police sources said.
The vehicle was snatched from Bahadurabad police station area Saturday night, the sources said.
The accused first killed a policeman at the gate of the police station and then entered the premises comprising couple of rooms. They shot and killed four policemen inside.
Motive of the attackers is still not known, the sources said.
Empties found from the spot indicated the attackers were carrying Kalashnikovs, the source said.
One senior police source said banned sectarian group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi could have been involved following the recent arrest of several of its activists, including a man found with explosives in Karachi last week.
"We cannot rule out the involvement of militant groups, but nothing is certain at this stage," said Abdul Khalaq Sheikh, a town police officer.
The shootout also came a day after police arrested Afaq Ahmed, leader of Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM), in Karachi.
Funeral of the policemen was held at police headquarters, Garden, in the afternoon.
The Sindh government announced a compensation of Rs 300,000 for the families of each of the deceased policeman and reward of Rs one million for anyone leading to the arrest of the attackers.
A sketch of the attackers prepared with the help of information resulting from recovery of the vehicle abandoned by the attackers is being issued to facilitate public to help identify the accused, the sources said.
The authorities also promoted injured Head Constable Mohammad Hasan Jatoi to the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector, besides announcing Rs 50,000 as compensation for injuries sustained by him and another Rs 50,000 as reward for his gallantry.
Jobs have also been offered for close relatives of the injured cop in recognition of his gallantry.
Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ibad and Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Khan Mahar have condemned the incident and expressed their sympathies with families of the martyred policemen. They have also assured of all possible measures to nab the attackers.
The IGP also announced that the heirs of the deceased policemen would get the salary till the age of retirement.
Meanwhile, the IGP has set up an investigation team with DIGP Investigation, Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari, as its head. It will consist of SSP Manzoor Ahmed Mughal, SP Farooq Awan and others. CID, Special Branch and Operation Branch's investigation teams would also assist in the task.
CCPO, Karachi, Asad Ashraf Malik would personally supervise the work of the investigation teams.-Agencies