Riots in Orangi after ‘ANP man’ shot dead

Police believe the victim was killed due to personal enmity, not ethnicity.

KARACHI:

Violence broke out in parts of Orangi Town after the target killing of an ‘Awami National Party (ANP) worker’ in Qasba Colony on Wednesday.

A young man, also a blanket seller who is claimed to be affiliated with the ANP, was shot and killed inside the Wednesday weekly bazaar. The victim was identified as 20-year-old Javed alias Toti.

Pirabad police said that he was shot once in the head and died shortly after. SP Khurram Waris said he was at work when Pashto-speaking men shot him and took off.

Following this, riots broke out in Banaras and Kati Pahari. Two small girls, nine-year-old Hina and Nazma, 10, were also reportedly injured when stray bullets hit them. The rioters also set a vehicle on fire and also attacked the fire brigade when it reached the site. Intense firing between ANP and a rival political group also started but no major incident was reported.

SP Khurram Waris said, “they (the ANP) had planned to [exploit the murder and] start ethnic riots,” the officer said. “The boy (the victim) was killed because of some personal enmity. However, this is being misdirected, that is towards ethnic issues,” said SP Waris. “It is being said that the deceased was an ANP activist, but I don’t think so.”

ANP spokesman Qadir Khan condemned the incident and declared that the victim was associated with the ANP Bacha Khan Ward UC12, Orangi Town.

PPP activist gunned down

A young PPP activist was gunned down near Teen Talwar, Clifton. Men opened fire at his Suzuki Alto, injuring Khadim Hussain Korejo. Frere SHO Shehzada Saleem confirmed that he was a PPP member and that one of his brothers worked at CM House.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2011.