Family members of a man killed in a police encounter and residents of Chandio Village held a protest at Punjab Chowrangi on Monday, causing severe traffic disruptions in the area.
The protest was being held against the killing of a suspect, identified as Shayan Baloch, who was shot dead during a police encounter on Sunday in the P&T Colony area within the jurisdiction of the Gizri police station.
Women and children also participated in the demonstration. Due to the protest, long queues of vehicles formed on surrounding roads, while the Gizri Submarine Underpass and nearby routes were severely affected. Both tracks linking Race Course and Gizri were blocked, and Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman Road was also closed for traffic.
The protesters claimed that Baloch had deliberately been killed by police, and that he could have been easily arrested alive. According to the demonstrators, police had allegedly lured him to the location under false pretences before wounding him during the encounter.
They also claimed that after he was wounded, police intentionally delayed taking him to a hospital for immediate medical treatment. As a result of the delay and excessive bleeding, he succumbed to his injuries.
They claimed that when Baloch had finally been placed in a police van to be taken to the hospital, he was still alive, adding that a video of the moment also exists. However, they claimed that police had not been interested in taking him to the hospital alive, and had intentionally delayed his transfer, which ultimately led to his death.
A heavy police contingent reached the site after receiving reports of the protest and the resulting traffic gridlock. Police attempted to disperse the demonstrators, who resorted to stone-pelting, breaking the windows of several vehicles. Police later used tear gas to disperse them and bring the situation under control.
Police said that an exchange of fire had taken place between armed suspects and police on Sunday, during which a suspect, Baloch, had been killed while his accomplice managed to escape. During the encounter, a bullet had also struck the bulletproof jacket of a police officer, but he remained unharmed.
According to police, the deceased suspect had been associated with the Mashori gang and was allegedly involved in multiple criminal activities in Karachi. Police have obtained his criminal record, which shows he was wanted in over 30 cases. After dispersing the protesters, police restored the traffic flow in the affected areas.
