Violence continues: Former councilor and son shot dead, four bodies found

The former councilor of Orangi Town was associated with MQM’s Unit 124.

KARACHI: A former councilor of Orangi Town, associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), was shot dead along with his son in an act of targeted killing on Tuesday. Four others, including a woman, were killed in different parts of the city.

The incident took place when unidentified armed motorcyclists opened fire at the victims while they were sitting at a hotel in Orangi Town Sector 11.5, within the limits of Iqbal Market police station. Both the father and son were shot multiple times and died on the spot. Their bodies were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for autopsies where a large number of people, including MQM leaders, workers, sympathisers and relatives of the victims gathered and shouted slogans to express their anger over the incident.



The deceased were later identified as 50-year-old Muhammad Rashid and his son, 21-year-old Muhammad Adil. Rashid was associated with MQM Orangi's Sector Unit 124. He used to run his own hotel, Apna Karachi Quetta Hotel, since 2009 and was a resident of the same area.

Following the incident, police officials also reached the site and collected the evidence from the crime scene. SHO Ghulam Hussain Rajper said that at least three motorcyclists had targeted the victims with their 9mm pistols. He said that the actual motive behind the incident has yet to be ascertained. No case has been registered.

MQM chief Altaf Hussain also condemned the incident. "MQM workers, professionals and scholars are being murdered. The performance of law enforcement agencies is disappointing," he said in a statement issued from London. "Karachi Operation has failed because of the poor performance of the law enforcement agencies."

Separately, the body of a man who was later identified as Muhammad Javed, 42, son of Sabir Hussain was found near Labour Square, within the limits of Korangi police station. Police officials said that the deceased used to live in Gulshan-e-Muhammad, Korangi, and was killed after having been kidnapped. He added that the victim had possibly been strangled to death.

The body of a young woman, who has yet to be identified, was found from Mehran Town, Memon Goth. Police officials said no mark of torture or injury was found on the body. Police, however, suspected that she had died after consuming poison.

Separately, the body of a young man was found near Banaras flyover within the limits of Orangi Town. Police officials said that the deceased was a drug addict and had possibly died due to overdose.

Meanwhile, the body of a young man was found near a nullah in Old Golimar, within the limits of Rizvia police station. Police officials said that the body was at least eight days old. The victim had been kidnapped and then killed by the assailants.  The body was shifted to Edhi morgue, Sohrab Goth for identification.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2014.