Top Shia cleric, 39 others arrested over involvement in Karachi sectarian killings

Allama Mirza Yousuf Hussain was rounded up from his house in Nazimabad late on Saturday night


Our Correspondent November 06, 2016
Allama Mirza Yousuf Hussain was rounded up from his house in Nazimabad late on Saturday night. PHOTO: EXPRESS

KARACHI: Law enforcement agencies on Sunday rounded up at least 40 suspects, including a prominent religious scholar, in Karachi following a spate of targeted killings.

Allama Mirza Yousuf Hussain, a prominent Shia scholar and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) leader, was arrested late on Saturday night during a raid at his house in the city’s Nazimabad area, sources told The Express Tribune.

Hussain, who is a prayer leader at Noor-e-Emaan Masjid, was taken into custody just a day after a former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senator was arrested by law enforcers over his alleged involvement in sectarian killings in the metropolis that took place recently and in the past as well.

Faisal Raza Abidi had been apprehended from his residence in New Rizvia Society, which falls in District East, late Friday night. Heavy weapons, including a G-3 rifle and sub-machine guns (SMGs), were also recovered during the half-an-hour long search before he was shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

Faisal Raza Abidi arrested for involvement in sectarian killings

On Friday, six people, including two prayer leaders belonging to the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazl (JUI-F), were shot dead in three separate attacks within the span of one hour. Two JUI-F workers were killed in Patel Para while three ASWJ workers, including a prayer leader at Shafiq Morr and a prayer leader in Hyderi, were gunned down apparently by the same group.

MWM condemns sectarian killings

MWM leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jaffery slammed the recent targetted killings of Shia mourners in New Rizvia Society area on Saturday.

Two Shia mourners were targeted by armed attackers in Rizvia Society when they were returning from a religious gathering, Jaffery said. The MWM leader, however, lamented that Shias were continuously being targeted in the city and yet law enforcers were taking their leaders into custody. Jaffery urged the government to take notice of the recent targeted killings in Karachi.

Abidi sent on judicial remand

Meanwhile, a local magistrate in Malir sent the former PPP senator to jail on Sunday on a judicial remand until November 19 for possession of illegal weapons.

According to Karachi DIG East, Abidi was rounded up over his alleged involvement in a double-murder case.

COMMENTS (2)

Abdullah | 7 years ago | Reply This is the right way to eliminate terrorism - an even handed approach.
Voiceless Pakistani | 7 years ago | Reply Oh no! Now they will stage dharna at Numaish and torture thousands of people by blocking roads.
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