One ANP, two PPP workers among six gunned down
Six people were killed in drive-by shootings across the city, five ‘target killers’ arrested by CID.
KARACHI:
After a brief lull, six people were killed in drive-by shootings across the city on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the city police claimed to have arrested five alleged target killers in separate raids.
At main University Road, two Pakistan Peoples Party workers were gunned down while two activists of the Peoples Student Federation - PPP’s student wing - were injured. Gulshan-e-Iqbal DSP Rizwan Wasti said four assailants on two motorcycles targeted the victims when they were sitting outside an apartment. The suspects sprayed them with bullets and escaped.
One victim, Iqbal, died on the way to Jinnah hospital, while the three others were taken to a private hospital on Stadium Road where Hussain Abid succumbed to his injuries. PSF members, Ibrahim Jatoi and Ghulam Nabi Brohi, are still receiving treatment.
Gulshan-e-Iqbal and surrounding neighbourhoods remained tense and a heavy contingent of law enforcers were deployed.
PPP Karachi division information secretary Sohail Abidi told The Express Tribune that both the deceased were party activists and were also related. Hussain Abid was Iqbal’s uncle and they were cable operators by profession. They were visiting the injured PSF workers when the incident occurred, Abidi said.
However, the police could not confirm which political party the deceased were affiliated with. “We could only confirm the affiliation of Ibrahim with the PSF,” DSP Wasti said. “Nobody here is cooperating.” No case was registered till the filing of this report.
Separately, the bullet-riddled body of a Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz activist was found in Port Qasim Industrial Area. The Sukkhan police said the deceased was identified as Mohammad Haris, 31. SHO Ghulam Ahmed Sheikh confirmed Haris’s affiliation with JSQM and said he was kidnapped first and then killed. He was shot in the head and neck.
The police also found empty shells of a 9mm pistol from the crime scene. After the news of Haris’s death spread, shops started closing down in Bin Qasim Town and aerial firing was reported.
An Awami National Party activist, 26-year-old Asif alias Angraiz, was also gunned down in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. Two men on a motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire at him. He was taken to the nearest private hospital where he died. ANP spokesman Qadir Khan told The Express Tribune that Asif was an active party worker and was associated with the ANP’s Bhittaiabad ward.
Gunshots resonated in parts of Pehlwan Goth and Gulistan-e-Jauhar and shops were forced to close down due to the intense firing.
Meanwhile, an employee of the Benazir Rozgar Scheme was shot dead in North Karachi in Khwaja Ajmer Nagri police limits. The victim, 32-year-old Jaffer Hussain, was killed in the same pattern of men on motorcycles opening fire then escaping. He was shot once in the head and died instantly. SHO Haji Mehsud said no political or religious party has claimed Hussain as a member yet. A case was registered against unidentified suspects.
Elsewhere, 30-year-old Rahat Ali, was gunned down near to his residence in Gulshan-e-Kaneez Fatima. The Sachal police said the deceased was a cable operator.
Five ‘target killers’ held
The Crime Investigation Department (Operations) claimed to have arrested five alleged target killers during separate raids on Wednesday.
In the first raid, one alleged target killers, Bakht Chandio, was arrested from his hideout and one TT pistol and ammunition was seized from him. According to SSP Fayyaz Khan, Chandio is a JSQM activist and he was wanted in cases of target killings, land grabbing, extortion, police encounters and kidnapping for ransom.
The officer said the accused has also confessed to most of his crimes during initial interrogation. Separately, Liaquatabad Town police arrested two suspected target killers during a raid in the C-1 area. SP Naveed Khawaja said the accused were involved in the murder of Super Market SHO Shafiq Tanoli’s younger brother, Naveed. Tanoli said the suspects, Irfan alias Iffy and Junaid alias Kala, killed his brother because he exposed the killers of a private TV channel reporter. Officials said they have confessed their involvement in around 45 murders in the city.
In another raid, Orangi Town police arrested an alleged target killer from Pirabad. SP Khurram Waris said the police arrested Umair with a TT pistol in his possession.
He said the accused were said to be involved in firing on public transport in which many commuters were killed. They were also involved in ethnic violence in Orangi, he added.
The Mochko police also arrested an accused named Wakeel Khan. The police said he was involved in the murder of constable Abid who was killed in January 2008.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2011.
After a brief lull, six people were killed in drive-by shootings across the city on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the city police claimed to have arrested five alleged target killers in separate raids.
At main University Road, two Pakistan Peoples Party workers were gunned down while two activists of the Peoples Student Federation - PPP’s student wing - were injured. Gulshan-e-Iqbal DSP Rizwan Wasti said four assailants on two motorcycles targeted the victims when they were sitting outside an apartment. The suspects sprayed them with bullets and escaped.
One victim, Iqbal, died on the way to Jinnah hospital, while the three others were taken to a private hospital on Stadium Road where Hussain Abid succumbed to his injuries. PSF members, Ibrahim Jatoi and Ghulam Nabi Brohi, are still receiving treatment.
Gulshan-e-Iqbal and surrounding neighbourhoods remained tense and a heavy contingent of law enforcers were deployed.
PPP Karachi division information secretary Sohail Abidi told The Express Tribune that both the deceased were party activists and were also related. Hussain Abid was Iqbal’s uncle and they were cable operators by profession. They were visiting the injured PSF workers when the incident occurred, Abidi said.
However, the police could not confirm which political party the deceased were affiliated with. “We could only confirm the affiliation of Ibrahim with the PSF,” DSP Wasti said. “Nobody here is cooperating.” No case was registered till the filing of this report.
Separately, the bullet-riddled body of a Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz activist was found in Port Qasim Industrial Area. The Sukkhan police said the deceased was identified as Mohammad Haris, 31. SHO Ghulam Ahmed Sheikh confirmed Haris’s affiliation with JSQM and said he was kidnapped first and then killed. He was shot in the head and neck.
The police also found empty shells of a 9mm pistol from the crime scene. After the news of Haris’s death spread, shops started closing down in Bin Qasim Town and aerial firing was reported.
An Awami National Party activist, 26-year-old Asif alias Angraiz, was also gunned down in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. Two men on a motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire at him. He was taken to the nearest private hospital where he died. ANP spokesman Qadir Khan told The Express Tribune that Asif was an active party worker and was associated with the ANP’s Bhittaiabad ward.
Gunshots resonated in parts of Pehlwan Goth and Gulistan-e-Jauhar and shops were forced to close down due to the intense firing.
Meanwhile, an employee of the Benazir Rozgar Scheme was shot dead in North Karachi in Khwaja Ajmer Nagri police limits. The victim, 32-year-old Jaffer Hussain, was killed in the same pattern of men on motorcycles opening fire then escaping. He was shot once in the head and died instantly. SHO Haji Mehsud said no political or religious party has claimed Hussain as a member yet. A case was registered against unidentified suspects.
Elsewhere, 30-year-old Rahat Ali, was gunned down near to his residence in Gulshan-e-Kaneez Fatima. The Sachal police said the deceased was a cable operator.
Five ‘target killers’ held
The Crime Investigation Department (Operations) claimed to have arrested five alleged target killers during separate raids on Wednesday.
In the first raid, one alleged target killers, Bakht Chandio, was arrested from his hideout and one TT pistol and ammunition was seized from him. According to SSP Fayyaz Khan, Chandio is a JSQM activist and he was wanted in cases of target killings, land grabbing, extortion, police encounters and kidnapping for ransom.
The officer said the accused has also confessed to most of his crimes during initial interrogation. Separately, Liaquatabad Town police arrested two suspected target killers during a raid in the C-1 area. SP Naveed Khawaja said the accused were involved in the murder of Super Market SHO Shafiq Tanoli’s younger brother, Naveed. Tanoli said the suspects, Irfan alias Iffy and Junaid alias Kala, killed his brother because he exposed the killers of a private TV channel reporter. Officials said they have confessed their involvement in around 45 murders in the city.
In another raid, Orangi Town police arrested an alleged target killer from Pirabad. SP Khurram Waris said the police arrested Umair with a TT pistol in his possession.
He said the accused were said to be involved in firing on public transport in which many commuters were killed. They were also involved in ethnic violence in Orangi, he added.
The Mochko police also arrested an accused named Wakeel Khan. The police said he was involved in the murder of constable Abid who was killed in January 2008.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2011.