Religious leader’s son-in-law killed

Police claim victim was targeted for his sect

KARACHI: Maulana Qari Muhammad Kazim, the son-in-law of a deputy general secretary of Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), was gunned down in Gulistan-e-Jauhar late Tuesday night.

MWM leader Maulana Muhammad Hussain Kareemi's son-in-law was shot dead near Munawar Chowrangi, when he was on his way home on his motorcycle. The police officials said that at least two armed men riding a motorcycle shot Kazim twice and he died on the spot. The body was taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for an autopsy and later handed over to the family.



Gulistan-e-Jauhar SHO Niaz Panwar said that the victim was apparently targeted for his sect, while the police are investigating the case from different angles. The SHO added that empty shells of bullets found from the crime scene have been sent to the forensic division of the Sindh police. A case has also been registered against unidentified persons and further investigation is under way.

Funeral prayers for the deceased were offered on Wednesday at Numaish Chowrangi, which were attended by a huge number of people from his community. Participants of the funeral prayers also staged a protest over the incident and shouted slogans against the banned outfits. The deceased was buried at Wadi-e-Hussain graveyard.

Later on, MWM held a press conference at organisation's provincial office at Numaish Chowrangi. While condemning the killing, MWM central leader Allama Ahmed Iqbal Rizvi demanded the government to take stern actions against the militant organisations. "Two of our community members have so far been killed in two days in a fresh wave of sectarian violence, while the government and law enforcement agencies have remained silent," he claimed. Rizvi urged the government and law enforcement agencies to launch a proper crackdown against militant organisations that are operating in the city. Following the recent consecutive killings, Shia Ulema Council has warned the government that they will protest and hold demonstrations from Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2017.