At least three protesting drivers were killed and another wounded when Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) personnel opened fire in an attempt to disperse an alleged violent mob on Superhighway near Karachi on Wednesday, said police. Several drivers of heavy vehicles were shot during their protest near Kathore against what police said was an attempt by personnel of the FWO to implement a recent Supreme Court judgement.

Karachi East DIG Amir Farooqi said that there was a conflict over axle load between the drivers and the FWO personnel. He recalled that the apex court recently gave a verdict in which some restrictions were imposed on heavy vehicles regarding carrying a certain amount of maximum load. "FWO personnel were trying to implement the SC verdict," the DIG said, adding that the drivers started parking their loaded trucks on the highway in protest against the move.

Citing initial reports, he said when the FWO personnel tried to prevent them from doing so, they were allegedly pelted with stones. The FWO personnel then resorted to firing in air to disperse them, DIG Farooqi said, adding that as a result, some people received bullet injuries. The officer did not elaborate how firing in the air resulted in fatalities.

The wounded drivers were initially rushed to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) where doctors pronounced three of them dead on arrival. Dr Seemin Jamali, executive director of the hospital, confirmed the development and said that an injured person was under treatment at the facility.

Those killed were identified as Ayub, Niaz Ali, and Rasool Khan. According to Dr Jamali, Ayub and Niaz sustained bullet wounds on their back and chest, respectively.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019