KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Saturday took notice of an incident in which a nine-month-old was killed after being hit by stray bullets in what police say was an exchange of fire between police officials and robbers.
Police said Hina Rashid, 24, was traveling with her 9-month daughter Anabiya in a rickshaw near Mateen Food Center in Karachi’s North Nazimabad Block M area.
“The woman was passing by in a rickshaw along with her infant child when they came in the line of fire during a police encounter with dacoits,” Karachi Additional Inspector General of Police (AGP) Javed Alam Odho told Arab News.
Police said they arrived to confront suspects who were robbing a citizen. However, upon seeing the police, the suspects opened fire, prompting police to trade fire with them.
“Apparently, the bullet fired by criminals hit the baby girl and her mother. But I have directed SSP (Senior Superintendent of Police) Central to ascertain whose bullet hit them,” he added.
While Anabiya passed away from her injuries, Rashida survived.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and ordered police to submit a report on the matter, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office.
“Taking notice of the incident, the chief minister issued orders to police officials to ensure the suspects are arrested immediately,” the chief minister’s office said. “He asked the Karachi police chief to submit a report on the incident.”
Odho said he has issued directives to the SSP to ensure the criminals are arrested. "They will be behind bars very soon," he added.
In 2018, a similar incident in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi made headlines across the country.
Ten-year-old Amal Umer lost her life during a police encounter with criminals in Karachi on Aug. 13, 2018. She was denied emergency treatment at a nearby hospital.
Amal was hit by a police bullet while sitting in a car when the 2018 encounter took place on a Karachi road. For nearly an hour her parents struggled to get medical help, but it was denied as in gunshot cases examination and registration by a medico-legal officer (MLO) was required.
