As PM, president in town, drive-by shootings take slew of lives

Peoples Amn Committee office set on fire, Jauhar terrorised with aerial firing.

KARACHI:

The death toll from drive-by  shootings since Thursday rose to 22 on Saturday. Vehicles were set on fire in Kharadar and men on motorcycles went around shooting unsuspecting victims at their doorsteps and shops.

People tried to keep a tab on the violence in order to ascertain if it was safe to venture out or return home from work.

The violence on Saturday started with the death of a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) worker near Bombay Bazaar within the limits of Kharadar police station. Witnesses said 25-year-old Khurram Saleem used to run a mobile phone shop. He was standing there when two men on a motorcycle swooped close, opened fire and took off. Saleem died at Civil hospital.

Scores of party workers flooded the hospital where a hue and cry broke out. Police confirmed Saleem’s affiliation with the party but could say little else. “We are in the initial stages of investigation,” said SHO Ghulam Nabi. “We first have to control the law and order situation and then investigate the murder.” No case was immediately registered.

The killing precipitated scenes of anarchy downtown. Armed men set on fire an office of the Peoples Amn Committee (PAC) in Kharadar near Madina Bakery, one passenger bus near Mereweather Tower and a rickshaw and a truck near Memon Jamaat Khana. Witnesses said that over half a dozen men on motorcycles fired non-stop in the air to scare shops into closing.

“They also opened fire at the PAC office,” said a witness. This is not the first time this office has come under attack. After Saba video’s owner was shot dead, similar violence was reported.

PAC president Shahidur Rehman told The Express Tribune that he held a coalition partner of the Sindh government responsible. “Why do we always bear the brunt of their reaction when we’ve never been involved in a killing of any of their workers,” he asked. “Perhaps they just attack our office because they can easily access the locality.”

Shortly after the MQM man was murdered, two men on a motorcycle shot two men dead in Pehalwan Goth in Gulistan-e-Jauhar precincts. Police said that they entered the office of a wanted criminal Muddassir ‘Chief’ and killed his brother Musawwir and his friend Sikander.

This killing had a similar effect on this neighbourhood where aerial firing was reported. Some men came out and pelted cars wtih stones, blocking the Pehlwan Goth road. Muddassir and Musawwir were wanted in several cases. They were nominated in the killings of three Awami National Party (ANP) men in Gulistan-e-Jauhar in January. The Rangers had also launched a hunt for them but they had escaped. Later on, the Rangers managed to catch Muddassir Chief off the Super Highway and sent him to jail.

In the same area, two men were gunned down and at least three - Sohail Baloch, Dilawar, and Adnan - were wounded when two groups exchanged fire. According to SHO Asif Jakhrani, Muddassir Chief’s group and the ANP’s Liaqat Bangash groups shot at each other. One of the two victims, namely Asad, was an ANP activist, but 12-year-old Mohammad Ehsan was just passing by. A heavy contingent of law enforcers was called to the scene but they were unable to enter the area. An exchange of fire was reported between the men and the Rangers but no one was reported hurt. The ANP has said that Asad was not their man.

Earlier on, an elderly man was gunned down by the gates of imambargah Ali Akbar in Sector 11.5, Orangi Town in Iqbal Market precincts. Police said that 60-year-old Qadir Buksh was cleaning the imambargah when two men on a motorcycle shot him and fled. He died at Qatar Hospital. He hailed from Kohat and lived in Toori Bangash, Orangi Town.

In Show Market area, two young men were gunned down. Garden police said that Adnan Azmat, 30, and Natwar, 24, were killed in a drive-by shooting and succumbed to their injuries at Civil hospital. Adnan was said to be a resident of Ranchore Line and Natwar of Hindu Para.

In another incident, a police informer was killed near his residence in Bantwa Nagar in Azizabad precincts. Noman Memon, 28, was shot twice. Police sources said that he was recently released from jail.

A young security guard, Shamsul Haq, was killed near Ghani Chowrangi. Site B Section police said he died while cleaning his rifle.

Separately, the bullet-riddled and torture-marked body of a man was found from the Super Highway in Sacchal jurisdiction. Police also found the magazine of a 9mm pistol on him.

Another gunshot case was found near Malir River. Shah Latif police said that the victim was shot once in the head.

Khaliq Baba and Ehsan Ali, who were injured in separate gun attacks in Orangi Town and Gulistan-e-Jauhar, succumbed to their injuries on Saturday. The 52-year-old Khaliq Baba was shot in the head and chest. One of his disciples, Shabbir Abbasi, was killed and another, Mazhar, was injured. They came under attack when they were cleaning the aastana. The Jamaat Ahle Sunnat has claimed that the victim was affiliated with their group.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2011.