KARACHI: A policeman was shot dead in the old city area on Sunday, officials said.

The Eidgah police said Constable Muhammad Ayub Ghanghro was killed by an assailant riding a motorbike with a woman as a pillion rider near Ghousia Biryani.

He suffered critical injuries and was taken to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi where he died during treatment.

DIG-South Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that the victim posted at the Chakiwara police station. He was in police uniform and heading towards the eatery to buy lunch when he was targeted.

He said investigators obtained CCTV footage and were recording statements of witness.

The DIG said CCTV footage showed a young man, accompanied by a burqa-clad woman, opened fire on the policeman. When the officer fell, the man took the policeman’s pistol and fled with the woman on a motorcycle parked nearby.

He said that police were investigating the case with all possible angles including a robbery gone wrong, targeted killing and personal enmity.

The deceased policeman originally hailed from Larkana. His family will take the body to their hometown for burial, he added.