Private TV channel's senior producer Athar Mateen shot dead in Karachi

• Police suspect Athar Mateen's assassination a result of resistance during robbery.
• Say armed motorcyclists gunned Mateen down on his way back to home in North Nazimabad.
• Say assailant fired three shots at Mateen's car, one of which killed him on the spot.

KARACHI: Private TV channel Samaa's senior producer Athar Mateen was shot dead in an armed attack on his car in the North Nazimabad area of Karachi Friday morning, Geo News reported.

The police said Mateen was assassinated at a main thoroughfare in North Nazimabad while he was on his way back home after dropping his children to school.

They said that Mateen, who was driving a car registered against AHT-180, tried to foil a robbery bid when he saw armed motorcyclists robbing another citizen by shoving his car into their motorcycle.

At this, one of the motorcyclists, who fell on the ground, opened fire at Mateen's car.

The assailant fired three shots, but Mateen sustained only one bullet injury which killed him on the spot, the police said.

Meanwhile, the assailants crossed the road on foot and fled while snatching another motorcycle.

Police suspect the incident to be of resistance during a robbery. However, a final statement will be given after an investigation.

According to initial investigations, police found only one bullet shell of a 30 bore pistol and assailants' motorcycle from the crime scene.

Mateen was the brother of renowned anchorperson Tariq Mateen.

Sheikh Rasheed condemns killing

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed expressed grief over Mateen's death and sought a report from the Sindh chief secretary and inspector general of police.

In a statement on Twitter, Rasheed strongly condemned Mateen's death, saying murder of a senior journalist at the hands of robbers is a gruesome incident.

Saeed Ghani acknowledges no decline in street crimes

Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani admitted on Friday that there has been no reduction in the street crimes in the metropolis, Geo News reported.

The minister said that there hasn’t been any significant reduction in the crimes, adding that it was very concerning that people were losing their lives.

“We will arrest Athar Mateen’s murderers. There will be no shortcomings in the case,” the minister assured the journalists.

On the other hand, Additional Inspector-General (AIG) Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon said that the policy regarding street crimes is clear, adding that the law enforcement agency will be able to apprehend the culprits soon as they have found “some evidence” related to the assailants.