Two PTI workers shot dead in Karachi

PTI says Sindh govt, police failing at their jobs; urges Rangers DG to curb rising political violence

Two workers of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were shot dead in separate targeted attacks in Karachi, Express News reported.

The fatal shootings were reported within an hour's span on Thursday night. The first attack was in Bhawani Chali, SITE Area, in which 27-year-old Abdul Rehman was shot dead.

As per reports, the PTI worker was targeted by three unidentified assailants and was shot multiple times at close range.

Less than an hour later, a second attack on a PTI worker was reported in Karachi's Orangi Town area. The victim was identified as 55-year-old Shafqat and witnesses said he was targeted by two men.

The murders drew vehement condemnation from Khurrum Sher Zaman, who is a member of the Sindh Assembly and president of PTI's Karachi chapter.

"The provincial government and police seem incapable of protecting the lives of Sindh's citizens. We appeal to director general Sindh Rangers to take notice of these targeted attacks on peaceful political workers. The perpetrators must be brought to justice," he said in a talk with reporters late on Thursday night.

Thursday's killings were the latest in a new wave of political violence in the country's financial hub. The attacks came just days after a party worker was killed and another injured in the February 11 attack on Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan’s (MQM-P) union council office in New Karachi.

Prior to that, on December 24, two workers were shot dead and two more injured as unidentified men opened fire at an office of the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) in Nazimabad.