No respite: Five fall prey to targeted attacks

A businessman was shot dead in Clifton over unexplained reasons.

KARACHI: Three political workers and a businessman were shot dead in separate acts of targeted killings in the city on Tuesday.

A middle-aged businessman was shot dead within the limits of Clifton police station. The incident took place when the deceased, identified as 56-year-old Raja Chawla, son of Ram Chand, was returning home after withdrawing Rs700,000 from a private bank. Initially, the police thought that he had been shot for resisting a robbery bid. Later, however, the police realised that the motive might have been something else as the assailants had not taken the cash.

Police officials said that the deceased was a resident of Bath Island, Clifton, and had converted to Islam around 25 years ago. He used to run his own business. There were unconfirmed reports that the deceased was receiving threats from unidentified persons over refusal to pay extortion which he had already paid twice before.

Separately, a contract employee of the K-Electric was shot dead while two others were wounded in a targeted attack in Baldia Town. The deceased was identified as 50-year-old Shabbir, while the injured as Ashfaq and Obaid. SHO Tahir Ayub said that the deceased and injured were on duty when unidentified assailants opened fire at their vehicle. The officer said that deceased was affiliated with Sunni Tehreek (ST), adding that his son had been gunned down in a similar manner a year ago.

Separately, a worker of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was shot dead in Korangi. The deceased was identified as Amanullah, alias Raja, 45, son of Ahmedullah. Police officials said that the incident took place when he was returning home after dropping his children at school. He was associated with MQM’s Unit 76.

In a separate incident, a general store owner belonging to the Shia community was shot dead at his store in Hassan Colony. The deceased, who was identified as Adeel Abbas, 40, son of Raziul Hassan, was also affiliated with the MQM.

The body of a young man was found from Lea Market. The deceased was later identified as Mubarak, who used to work as a security guard.

Meanwhile, a former councilor associated with the MQM was shot and injured in a firing incident in Baldia Town within the limits of Ittehad Town police station. The victim was identified as Sohail alias Baba, son of Haji Muhammad Miskeen.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2014.