Geo News DSNG attack: Same weapon used in target-killing of cops

KARACHI: Police in Karachi said Wednesday that the weapon used in a fatal attack on a Geo News DSNG van was the same used in recent target-killings of traffic policemen in the city.

Three gunmen riding a motorcycle attacked the DSNG van in the Bahadurabad area of the city on Tuesday night, killing satellite engineer Arshad Ali Jafri and injuring the driver.

Police officials told Geo News on Wednesday an initial forensic report has been prepared according to which the bullet casings found from the scene of the shooting are believed to come from the same 9mm pistol that was used in the recent killing of four police personnel in Saddar, Gulshan-i-Iqbal and Gulbai areas of Karachi.

Read in detail: Geo News DSNG attacked: Satellite engineer killed, driver injured

Police said they have also retrieved video from four CCTV cameras installed near the scene of the attack. The footage from the CCTV cameras appears to show that the suspects stayed in and hid around the Bahadurabad area after the attack, police officials said.

After gathering information from the forensic report, CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts, police said they have carried out an operation in the nearby Sherpao colony area and carried out some arrests in connection to the case.

Police has also decided to carry out geo-fencing of the area, which will enable investigators to be able to track records of calls placed to and from mobile phones in the area around the time of the shooting.

Meanwhile, a case has been lodged at the Ferozabad police station under anti-terrorism laws on the complaint of Anees, the Geo News driver who was also injured in the attack.

Attack against media freedom: Geo News management

The management of Geo News said the attack on the DSNG van was targeted and intended to intimidate the entire media industry not just Geo.

Geo News management termed the attack as being against the independence of media. Geo News Managing Director (MD) Azhar Abbas said Geo News management strongly condemned the attack and offered condolences to the family of Arshad Ali Jafri and is with them in this time of sorrow.

MD Geo News added that the channel was expecting a swift and transparent investigation of this murder by the police. He further said that the perpetrators and planners of this attack would be exposed and brought to justice.