Spiralling violence claims at least 14 lives in Karachi

MWM Karachi’s deputy secretary-general slain.

KARACHI:

At least 14 people, including Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) Karachi’s deputy secretary-general and three members of the Tableeghi Jamaat, were killed in spiralling violence across the city on Tuesday.

Allama Deedar Ali Jalbani, who contested from PS-126, was on his way to the MWM office in the Ancholi Society of Federal B Area, when gunmen opened fire at his car. Allama Jalbani and his driver, Sarfaraz Ali , were shot multiple times and died on the spot. The incident took place in Gulshan-e-Iqbal’s Mobina Town area.

The religious party has announced three-days of mourning and a protest today (Wednesday) to condemn the assassination of Allama Jalbani and his driver, who was also his personal guard. MWM officials threatened unspecified action if the government failed to arrest the culprits within 24 hours.

Within a few hours, three members of the Tableeghi Jamaat were shot dead and two others injured in a targeted killing incident outside Madni Masjid in North Nazimabad.

A scout of the Payam-e-Wilayat, Syed Zakir Hussain, was also shot dead near Singer Chowrangi.

Another incident involving the targeted killing of a local commander of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Mushtaq Mohmand and four others, took place within an hour.

At least eight armed terrorists on three motorcycles resorted to indiscriminate firing at a black-coloured-SUV near Sakhi Hassan Chowrangi, resulting in the death of Mohmand, his police guard, Wazir Gul and two companions, Zar Mehsud and Mujahid Mehsud. Another companion, Sher Khan, was critically injured and later succumbed to his injuries at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

Mohmand had contested as an independent candidate for the provincial assembly seat from Manghopir in the general elections. Police sources told The Express Tribune that Mushtaq Mohmand was on the target-list of the Taliban, who intended to kill him on the suspicion of working for the intelligence agencies. However, police officials blamed the killing on an internal rift among the Taliban.

“Mohmand was associated with the slain TTP leader Waliur Rehman group. He used to live in Manghopir’s Kunwari Colony from where he used to operate and generate funds for the Taliban,” North Nazimabad SP Mohammad Akhtar told The Express Tribune while quoting the initial investigations.

He claimed that members of Hakeemullah Mehsud’s group killed him.

Separately, a young man, Zubair Haroon was shot dead in Mansehra Colony in Landhi, while the body of an abducted man was found from Saeedabad area of Baldia Town. According to police, the victims were not affiliated with any religious or political party.

Another man was reportedly killed when unidentified armed men hurled a hand grenade at a tea shop in Samanabad locality of the Federal B Area. SHO Rizwan Patel said that the both the men were wounded in the attack however, one of the injured later succumbed to his injuries. Yet another fatal shooting occurred in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, where one vendor was gunned down.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2013.