KARACHI – Nine people, including political activists, were gunned down in separate acts of violence in different parts of the metropolis on the last day of the year 2012.
A Pakistan People’s Party activist was shot dead near Aisha Bawani School within the remit of the Saddar Police Station.
According to police officials, the victim, Nawazish Ali, 40, son of Nadir Ali, a resident of Basta Line, was standing near the school, when unidentified armed riders opened fire on him and fled the scene. Ali received multiple bullets and died on the spot. The body was shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for autopsy, and later handed over to the heirs.
Following the incident, a large number of women staged protest at Shahra-e-Faisal and burnt tyres, demanding arrest of the killers of the PPP worker. The area was cordoned off. The heavy contingent of police and Rangers also claimed to have arrested at least eight miscreants.
Separately, a worker of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was killed in Buffer Zone area within the precincts of the Taimooria Police Station.
Identified as Salahuddin, 58, son of Abdul Samad, the victim was sitting at his crockery stall when unidentified gunmen riding on a motorbike targeted him. He was pronounced dead on the spot. Police officials said the victim had links with MQM’s Unit-143. They suspected that it was a targeted killing.
In another incident, a man, namely Jawad Hussain, 45, son of Khawaja Zameer Hussain, was mowed down in Orangi Town. Officials of the Iqbal Market Police Station said the victim was going somewhere on his motorbike when a bike-borne duo opened fire on him.
Hussain succumbed to his gunshot wounds on way to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The motive behind the killing could not be ascertained till the filling of this report.
Separately, a milk shop owner was gunned down and another wounded in PNT Colony. Police officials said the victim, Mushtaq, 46, and his nephew 25-year-old Qasim, a resident of PECHS, were going to collect money from their distributors, when unidentified gunmen sprayed them with bullets. Resultantly, they sustained multiple bullet injuries and were ferried to JPMC, where doctor pronounced Mushtaq as brought death.
Body of a young man was found from Old Golimar area. Police officials said the victim, Bilal Baloch, 18, son of Inam Baksh, a resident of Mohammad village, had been kidnapped from Garden area and later killed by his abductors. The officials added that the victim belonged to a Lyari gang war group, suspecting that he might have been killed over personal dispute.
In the worst incident, four people, including three women, were gunned down and others wounded in Ayub Goth area.
Police officials said that at least five unidentified culprits barged into the house of Malik Riaz and opened indiscriminate firing. As a result, Malik Riaz, his wife, son Sheraz, Naureen Bibi, Malik’s sister-in-law Samreen and relatives Joji Khatoon received critical bullet wounds and were rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medical treatment, where doctor pronounced Riaz, Naureen, Samrren and Joji dead. Sheraz was stated to be in critical condition.
The officials said that Malik Riaz had contracted second marriage with Naureen a couple of years ago and had three children.
They said Riaz hailed from Hazara, and suspect that the motive behind the incident was personal dispute. Investigation is in progress.