Personal enmity? Retired major, son injured in targeted attack

KARACHI:

A retired major of the Pakistan Army and his son were injured in a targeted shooting in broad daylight on Monday as unidentified armed motorcyclists shot at their jeep in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

The incident took place in Block 13-D shortly after the victims left their home to go somewhere. "At least two armed men riding a motorcycle opened fire at their private vehicle," explained Gulshan-e-Iqbal SP Dr Fahad Ahmed while talking to The Express Tribune. "One armed man in another motorcycle was also on backup but he did not fire," he added.



Major (retd) Jameel Kiyani and his son Jibran are admitted at Aga Khan University Hospital for medical treatment. The attackers resorted to indiscriminate fire, however, the victims only received one bullet each. "Both the father and son were shot once," said Gulshan-e-Iqbal SHO Safdar Mashwani. "The father is out of danger while his son is in critical condition," he explained. Following the incident, a large contingent of law enforcers reached the site and collected evidence. Police claimed to have collected 17 empty shells of pistols. "Fourteen empties were of a 9mm pistol while three of a .30 bore pistol," said Mashwani.

The major's private security guard was also in the car but he remained unhurt. The guard told investigators that he attempted to retaliate but, after resorting to a few shots, his weapon jammed and he could not fire back.

Police have initiated investigations after recording the statements of the security guard and witnesses. However, they have yet to find any concrete evidence, including CCTV footage, to help trace the culprits. Police claim the incident has no links with the ongoing targeted killings and could be the result of a personal enmity.  "Initial investigation suggests that it was an act of personal enmity," suspected SP Ahmed. "Major sahib, particularly his brothers, had land disputes in Architect Society, Gulistan-e-Jauhar which have claimed the lives of a few people earlier," he explained. The officer added that it could possible that the attack was linked with the same issue. However, no case was registered by Monday evening.

In December last year, a retired army major was shot dead in Karachi's Defence Housing Authority in an attack claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th,  2016.