24 dead as Karachi killings intensify

KARACHI The wave of violence and killings intensified in the city as 24 more people were gunned down and while 10 vehicles were torched and half a dozen shops were vandalised in different areas of the countrys commercial hub here on Monday. PPP supporters and a policeman included those killed in incidents of violence in the city. Manzoor Hussain was killed in Mobina Town and angry people burnt a vehicle in protest. An elderly man, Zarlal, and his young son, Niaz Khan, were shot dead in Sharah-e-Noor Jahan. In Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Hayatullah was killed and Shahid was wounded in an armed attack at his restaurant in Sharah-e-Faisal police limits. A policeman posted at special branch of the bomb disposal squad, Tariq Dad, was killed in Landhis Sharafi Goth area. An estate agent Shah Kareem was killed while Rab Nawaz and his son, Shahnawaz, were wounded in an attack on their loaded truck in New Karachi. One Abdul Shakoor and Asif Mohammad, and an unidentified man were killed in SITE and Aziz Bhatti areas. In volatile Surjani Town, eight people were killed during the last 24 hours and several others were injured during an exchange of fire and target killing. Meanwhile, armed men also torched four vehicles including two mini buses, two vans and six hotels during clashes. Though heavy contingents of law enforcement agencies rushed to the troubled areas, they stayed away due to heavy exchange of fire. Two people of Orangi Town including Kamran Hanif, an MQM worker, were kidnapped and killed. After the incident, violence erupted in different areas of the town including Gulfamabad, Pirabad, Mominabad, Qasba Colony, Bukhari Colony and Tauheed Colony where over one dozen people were wounded during intense firing between armed groups. Some miscreants also torched two passenger coaches and a rickshaw, and attacked a police mobile with a hand grenade. As they were carrying sticks and batons, they whipped and injured several people standing at the different bus stops around Orangi Town. A retired Major, Nasir, security officer of the National Bank of Pakistan, was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital after he was injured in a blind firing from Manghopir. Other troubled areas - Golimar and Pak Colony also witnessed violence where two bodies of MQM workers were found dead. One of them was identified Ashfaq Ahmed. Following the incident, a number of residents staged a protest demonstration against the increasing incidents of kidnapping and killing. They pelted stones, damaged several vehicles and burnt tyres on the roads which caused massive traffic jam for some three hours on the routes leading to Lasbella to Golimar. Protestors also set two vehicles including a KESC truck on fire. Police said the worst affected areas were Yousuf Goth, Taiser Town and Khuda Ki Basti. Separately, two dead bodies packed in sacks were recovered from a park in Nazimabad. The identities of victims are yet to be ascertained. However, they seemed Pushto speaking. In another incident, a man was shot dead at Safor Goth in the limits of Sachal Police Station. One Rahim Dad alias Jangi, son of Hakim Baloch, was shot dead in Maripur Greeks within the limits of Maripur police station. Police said the victim was released from jail one week earlier. Another man, Afsar, was killed at Korangi 5 in the limits of Awami Colony Police Station. Saiful Islam succumbed to injuries in Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Police said he was resident of Gulshan Bihar, Orangi Town.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt