Target killings: Violence continues as four more people are killed

The police arrest seven men linked to Banaras Bridge attack.

KARACHI:

As the law and order situation in the city simmered down, four people were gunned down, raising the death toll to 37 on Sunday.

Taxi driver Ameerullah, 26, was shot dead by men on a motorcycle in Orangi Town, said the police. DSP Tariq Malik said that Ameerullah was on his way home after a relative’s wedding in Saeedabad when the incident took place. The Awami National Party claimed that he was affiliated with them, however, the police did not find any evidence to support the claim. The funeral prayers were offered near his house in Frontier Colony. The DSP claimed that he was killed because of the on-going violence in the city.

A fruit vendor identified as 26-year-old Akmal was gunned down at his house near Sindhi Hotel in New Karachi. The motive behind the murder has not been ascertained as yet.

Zakir, 27, and 28-year-old Fahim were rescued from an empty plot in Jamshed Quarters near Central Jail. When the police found them, their hands and legs were bound by ropes. They were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where Zakir passed away. The police claim that Zakir, a resident of Ghausia Colony, and Fahim, a resident of New Karachi, were abducted from PIB Colony. ASI Bahadur Ali said that the suspects must have shot both men before dumping them near the prison.  A heavy contingent of Rangers, the police and commandos from the Rapid Response Force were sent to Orangi Town to patrol the area.

Behind bars

The police detained seven suspects allegedly involved in killing three Muttahida Qaumi Movement supporters on Banaras Bridge. DSP Malik said that they had carried out a raid after a visit from the Interior Minister Rehman Malik. He added that the suspects were living in a room in a three-storey building near the bridge.

A man identified as Saqib Khan was killed while Kashif was taken into police custody. They claimed that Saqib was a Lyari gangster and was killed in a search operation in Chakiwara. They seized a Kalashnikov and 9mm pistol from them. According to the Anti-Extremist Cell chief SSP Chaudhry Aslam Khan, the suspect was closely linked to the banned Peoples Amn Committee leader Uzair Baloch. He added that Saqib had been arrested before.

Habib Jan Baloch from the Friends of Lyari International, said that the police had killed an innocent man in a fake encounter.

As the news of his death spread in the neighbourhood, friends and family came to protest in front of the Chakiwara police station. The police resorted to aerial firing and teargas shelling to disperse the crowd. The protester attacked the policemen with petrol bombs. A Samaa TV van was also damaged as protesters attacked it with sticks and stones. DIG Shaukat Ali Shah said that the police was told to take action against protesters creating a ruckus.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd, 2012.