Two ASWJ members gunned down

Two members of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) were shot dead in broad daylight in the city's Buffer Zone area on Saturday, in what police suspected as target killing.

Two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle opened fire at a shop in Sector 15-B, Nagin Chowrangi, before fleeing. The victims, both critically wounded, were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) where they died.

The deceased were identified as 32-year-old Shah Ahmed Pirzada, owner of the shop and 24-year-old Abu Bakar, an employee. Police recovered five spent bullet casings from a 9mm pistol at the scene and obtained CCTV footage showing the incident.

SSP Central, who visited the site, told Express that the footage showed one assailant waiting on the bike while the other entered the shop and fired multiple rounds. Eyewitnesses said the assailants fired five to seven shots before escaping. "The incident appears to be a targeted attack, but the motive - whether personal enmity or sectarian - will be determined after investigation," the SSP said.

He added that the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) had also been called to assist in the probe. Investigators are examining whether the attack is linked to a similar recent shooting incident reported on University Road.

At ASH, members of the Ulama Committee Sindh and ASWJ leaders condemned the killings.