Law and order : Two ASWJ men gunned down

Unrest in Liaquatabad, New Karachi as protesters take to the streets.

KARACHI:

Four men, including two members of the Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ) — formerly known as Sipah-e-Sahaba — were killed on Monday.

The two ASWJ activists were gunned down in a drive-by shooting near the Liaquatabad No. 10 underpass early Monday. The two men — identified as Abu Hashim, 29, son of Abu Bakr and Zubair, 30, son of Atiq — were on their way home from a Seeratun Nabi conference in Bandhani Colony on a motorcycle (KCC-3427) when two motorcyclists opened fire on them.

According to witnesses, “they shot them after a chase”. The victims’ bodies were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for legal formalities. Several ASWJ activists and family members reached the hospital to condemn the killing.

Zubair’s brother, Aqeel, was sure that the family will never know why they lost him. “How many people have been killed in the city and how many culprits have the authorities caught?” he asked. Both victims were residents of Surjani Town. Abu Hashim was still in college while Zubair was in university.

According to doctors, both victims sustained multiple bullet injuries and were already dead on arrival. SHO Aslam Khan said that the police have found empty shells, which show that the assailants used a 9mm pistol. “The culprits were sharp shooters as they did not miss any fire,” the officer observed. The police also suspect that the culprits may have been present at the conference.

An FIR No. 40/11 against unidentified persons has been registered on the complaint of Aqeel.

ASWJ spokesperson Maulana Taj Hanfi condemned the killings. “We demand the arrest of the culprits not only behind the killings of these two men but those behind the deaths of our leader, activists and supporters killed in the past couple of years,” he said.

Liaquatabad, Surjani Town, Nagan Chowrangi and New Karachi remained tense after the killings. Protesters burnt tyres and suspended traffic. Abu Hashim’s funeral prayers were offered at Jama Masjid Bab-e-Rehmat in Surjani Town and he was buried later. Zubair’s funeral prayers were offered in Liaquatabad, where he was buried.

In a separate incident, a 24-year-old man, Ravi, son of Ram Das, was gunned down outside his house in Block 12, Narain Pura, Ranchore Lines. Ravi worked as a sweeper. He was shot several times and was taken to Civil hospital, where he died. The police suspect that he may have been targeted over suspicion of being an informant. A case has been registered.

A 37-year-old truck driver was also killed with the jurisdiction of Site A-Section police station. Abdul Ghaffar alias Papa, son of Toor Khan, was a resident of Bawani Chali area and was gunned down at a truck stand in Site. Initial investigation suggests that the deceased was killed over a personal matter. They suspect that Abdul Ghaffar’s relative, Mehboob, may have shot him and escaped after an argument. The victim hailed from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and had two children.

By late Monday night, another case was reported. A man was shot dead and another was injured in what appeared to be a target killing in Sacchal limits.

The victim was identified as 39-year-old Sardar Mohammad Akakhel. Police said that he was a resident of Junejo Town in Sohrab Goth where he used to run a peace committee.

They said that the incident occurred when he was sitting at a spare parts shop located at Gulshan View apartment on Abdul Hassan Ispahani Road and the two armed men riding a motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire at him.

He died on the spot while a rickshaw driver, Naimat Abdul Baki, 25, was injured. There were reports that the victim was affiliated with the Awami National Party but ANP spokesman Qadir Khan said he had no link with the party.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th,  2011.