KARACHI - At least 12 people lost their lives in the city on Saturday. Authorities say policemen, political and religious workers were among the dead.
In the first incident, armed men targeted and killed two policemen near Vita Chowrangi in Korangi. The victim policemen were stationed at the election commission camp in Korangi area. The incident took place within the remits of the Korangi Industrial Area Police Station when the victims, on Friday night, were going to a nearby restaurant for dinner. They were identified as head constable, Akhtar Shahzad and constable, Abdul Aziz. They were shot multiple times and died on the spot. The bodies were taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for autopsy. Police officials said the victims were deployed at the election commission camp at a government school in Korangi area, adding that culprits also took away their official sub machine guns while fleeing. A case was registered against the unidentified killers.
Separately, a member of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat was shot dead and two others were wounded in an act of target killing in Orangi Town. The victim was identified as Noorul Bashar, 28, son of Mubashir, and the injured as Maulana Saleemullah and Shoaib.
Police officials said the victim was a member of the committee of the Islamia Masjid in Orangi Town. The injured, Maulana Saleemullah, is a prayer leader. They said that at least four armed men, riding on a motorbike, attacked the victim while he was sitting outside the mosque. Routine and commercial activities were suspended in the area. A heavy contingent of law enforcers rushed to the area to avert any further untoward happening.
Similarly, a sympathiser of ASWJ, 26 year old Waqar Ahmed, was gunned down in Orangi Town. DSP Zahid Hussain said the victim was standing near his home when two armed men riding a motorcycle shot and killed him. The victim was a tailor by his profession. The motive behind the incident could not be ascertained till the filing of this report.
Separately, an activist of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Sharafat, 25, was gunned down and his brother, Mubarak, 29, was wounded by two armed riders. Sharafat was sitting at their shop within Jamshed Quarters police remits whwen they were attacked. Police officials said both the victims were associated with MQM and were employees of the Karachi Municipal Corporation. They said the victims used to run their refrigerator’s repairing shop, adding that police found 18 empty bullets shells of 9mm pistols. Further investigation is in progress.
Similarly, another worker of MQM was shot dead in Islam Nagar, Orangi Town area. Police officials said the victim, Shabbir Ahmed, 27, was sitting at his plastic shop when he was attacked by armed men. They said the motive behind the incident could not be ascertained till the filing of this report.
Meanwhile, bullet riddled body of a worker of the Sunni Tehreek, who was killed after abduction within the remits of Brigade police station, was recovered from Saddar area. Police officials said 24-year-old Sajid, son of Abdul Rasheed, a resident of Lines Area, was kidnapped on Thursday night. He was shot in the temple by his abductors.
Meanwhile, a man was found dead near KDA flats within the jurisdiction of the Surjani Town Police Station. The victim was identified as Mirza Sabir Baig, 26. Police officials said the victim had criminal record and was recently released from jail on a bail after two-and-a-half-year imprisonment over murder of a drama producer in Anar Kali area, Surjani Town.
Another bullet riddled body was found near Northern Bypass. SHO Ejaz Rajper said apparently, unidentified culprits kidnapped the victim tortured him so badly and later dumped his body at the said place. The body was shifted to a morgue for identification.
Similarly, another body of a man, namely 26-year-old Asif, son of Tariq, was found from Malir Bakra Piri area within the precincts of the Memon Goth Police Station. Police officials said the victim lived in Daud Goth area of Malir and was apparently killed by armed men after his kidnapping. They said the victim was shot at least ten times. The motive behind the killing could not be ascertained.
A mechanic, Yousuf Buksh, 23, was killed within the limits of Samanabad Police Station when he tried to foil a robbing bid. Police officials said that Buksh was killed by when he tried to catch two robbers who were trying to flee after robbing a milk shop. They said that one of the robbers was later arrested along with a weapon. Further investigation is underway.
Separately, a teacher of Masjid-e-Jamia Siddiqia namely Qari Ishfaq was shot dead in Metrovile III area within the remits of the Mobina Town Police Station. Police officials said the victim was going to the mosque from somewhere when armed riders opened fire on him. The body was shifted to a hospital for autopsy. The deceased was affiliated with Ahl e Sunnat Wal Jamat (ASWJ). Spokesman for the ASWJ, Maulana Saeed Akber, strongly condemned the killing.