The Anti-Vehicle Lifting Cell (AVLC) said the operation targeted the Mani gang, which was involved in stealing vehicles from Karachi and selling them in other provinces.

Gang leader Farman, alias Mani, was killed along with another key operative, identified as Kashif, alias Kashu.

Farman was wanted in more than 20 cases and had been stealing and snatching vehicles in various parts of Karachi since 2021, said SSP AVLC Khalid Mustafa Korai.

Kashif, alias Kashu, belonged to Lahore and had 22 cases registered against him in Punjab on charges of vehicle theft, weapons possession and narcotics, the SSP said.

Police recovered two pistols from the accused, according to the SSP AVLC.

A Honda Civic recovered from the suspects was found to have been stolen from Ferozabad, police said.