Target killing: SP from 1990s’ operation killed

Unidentified assailants shoot dead senior policeman, his friend outside clinic in Korangi.

KARACHI:

A senior police officer and a doctor accompanying him were gunned down by unidentified attackers in Korangi on Monday evening in an apparent act of targeted killing.

SP Shah Mohammad had taken part in the Karachi operation during the 1990s against a political party. He was also nominated in the murder case of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain’s brother and nephew.

East Zone DIG Captain (retd) Tahir Naveed told The Express Tribune that initial investigations suggest SP Shah was targeted by assailants who did their homework. “His killing may be linked with his participation in the Karachi operation and the FIR registered against him,” he suspected.

In 1995, FIR No. 130/97 under sections 302, 364-A, 109 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code was registered at the Gulberg police station by MQM leader Shoaib Bukhari. SP Shah, who was then an SHO, was nominated in the case along with slain chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Benazir Bhutto, former Sindh chief minister late Abdullah Shah, former federal interior minister late Maj Gen (retd) Naseerullah Khan Babar and former SHO Rao Anwar and SI Ahmed Shah.

On Monday, 53-year-old SP Shah, who suffered from sinus ailments, was visiting the clinic of his doctor friend, 50-year-old Dilshad Ali Ghauri, in Korangi No. 3, when armed men targeted them. Shah’s driver, PC Mohammad Riaz, was also wounded in the attack.

He used to come here daily, said the compounder at the clinic. “As per their routine, Shah Sahib was going out of the clinic after the checkup and Ghauri Sahib had gone out to see him off. As soon as they went near Shah Sahib’s official jeep, they were fired at.”

Dr Ghauri, a father of four, lived in Korangi No. 5 and was a general physician. He had been running the clinic for the past many years.

“He had no enemies,” said his brother-in-law Mudasir. “Maybe he was punished for treating Shah Sahib.”

SP Shah’s driver Riaz, who was shot twice, told The Express Tribune that at least four young men carried out the attack. “They were not speaking to each other and just casually walked towards us and opened fire,” he said. “Then they crossed the road and went away.”

The police officer was shot at least six times while the doctor suffered four bullets. 9mm pistols were used in the attack.

Shah started his career with the Federal Security Force, a paramilitary force created by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1972. He was posted as the SHO at various police stations in Karachi, including Gulberg, Taimuria and Khwaja Ajmer Nagri. He was recently promoted from DSP to the SP rank via the Departmental Promotion Committee. He was working as the East Zone SP Admin.

SP Shah is survived by his four children and wife. After separation from his first wife about five years ago, he had been living alone in the Cantt area. About two months ago, he married Kaneez Fatima, who also worked at the police department.

As the news about his murder spread, the SP’s wife also arrived at the Jinnah hospital. She twice fell unconscious after seeing her husband’s body.

“We had married only two months ago,” said Fatima. “What type of a city is this where people kill policemen without any fear?”

“He used to say he had many enemies and that he might be killed anytime,” she said. “Today, his fears came true.”

Sindh Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Shah also visited the crime scene and told the press that SP Shah was targeted. He also announced a “high-level” investigation of the murder.

Seven more shot dead

Two leaders of Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ) were shot dead in a drive-by shooting in Zia Colony, Gulshan-e-Iqbal on Monday.

DSP Pervez Iqbal Bhatti said that Mufti Zeeshan and Danish aka Bihari were coming out of a mosque after offering Isha prayers when assailants on a motorcycle shot them dead.

The ASWJ has demanded that the government arrest the murderers of its activists.

Earlier, five people were killed in the city in separate incidents. Shopkeeper Adnan Rafiq, who lived in Delhi Colony, was gunned down in Clifton; Saeed Gul, 25, was shot dead in Awami Colony in Korangi and Siraj, 44, was killed in the Brigade area.

A doctor identified as Tariq Ashrafi was gunned down in Orangi Town while a young man identified only as Imran was shot dead in Kharadar.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2012.