Policeman booked for firing on passenger bus in Karachi

KARACHI: The firing incident in which three passengers of a coach were injured in Karachi on Monday morning has unraveled pointing out that it were actually police who opened fire on the vehicle.

At least three persons were wounded as a result of firing on a passenger bus near Karachi's Nazimabad area early Monday.

Police officials kept budging stance at first saying unknown motorcyclists opened fire on the bus and later stating that explosive material inside the vehicle went off resulting in injuries.

After news channels flashed images of bullet marks on the vehicles, officials admitted it was a firing incident, but denied involvement of fellow policemen in the episode.

Officials argued that the gunshot marks on the bus do not match with that of sub-machine gun's – a weapon usually carried by the cops on duty.

They insisted that no police mobile is usually stationed at the site, where the incident took place.

But the driver of the passenger bus exposed the police, narrating as to what actually happened.

He said the duty policemen at the spot routinely demanded money from drivers, and today they opened fire on the bus when he pulled it over at a little distance past them.

After the bus driver recorded his statement, police identified the cop who opened fire on the bus as Naseer Shah and lodged a case against him.

They said the cop, on night duty, opened fire for not stopping the vehicle. The suspect, however, remains on the run.

Officials have recorded statement of all duty cops present at the time of incident. They say a forensic test of the vehicle and weapon carried by the suspect will now be held to ascertain facts.