Prominent businessman survives armed attack

Lakhani's vehicle was intercepted on Lyari Expressway

KARACHI:

Prominent businessman Muhammad Lakhani and his driver were wounded when unknown armed men riding a car opened fire on their vehicle on Wednesday.

The assailants managed to escape.

Initial reports revealed that Muhammad Lakhani left his house near Karsaz with his driver at 1:20pm.

He was going to the SITE area via the Lyari Expressway as he had to go to Lakhani Company near the Jamia Binoria seminary.

"At the Garden Interchange, a white sedan overtook their vehicle and armed men in the vehicle opened fire on the businessman's car," said the police.

"There were four people in the Toyota Corolla of the suspects.

As soon as they opened fire, the businessman retaliated.

Lakhani and his driver sustained injuries in the exchange while the attackers fled.

The two were rushed to a private hospital," they added.

Police said that they did not find any empty shells at the scene.

However, seven bullet casings were found from Lakhani's special utility vehicle (SUV).

His windscreen had multiple bullet holes.

Police and Rangers reached the crime scene to investigate the incident.

No case has been registered so far.

According to Keamari SSP Fida Hussain Janwari, three suspects in a sedan opened fire at the businessman's vehicle while the fourth one was behind the steering wheel.

"Most probably, the suspects followed Lakhani as soon as he left home.

They opened fire after overtaking him.

When Lakhani retaliated, the suspects escaped." "The businessman sustained bullet injuries but is out of danger and being treated at a private hospital," he added.

The officer said that the motive behind the attack was not clear as Lakhani, in his initial statement, told the police that he had not received any threats of extortion.

The police are investigating from different angles including business rivalry, dispute or personal enmity, he added Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, while condemning the incident, sought a report from the Additional Inspector General Javed Alam Odho over the incident.

The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) and the Businessman Group (BMG) expressed concern over the worsening law and order situation in the city and strongly condemned the attack on the reputed industrialist and exporter Muhammad Lakhani.

A delegation of businessmen, including BMG Chairman Zubair Motiwala and KCCI President Tariq Yousuf said that the law-enforcement agencies have been requested a number of times to pay attention towards the worsening law and order situation in Karachi.

Unfortunately, no concrete steps were taken as a result of which Muhammad Lakhani was targeted.