Blind man shot dead as police, family dispute motives

KARACHI:

A 40-year-old blind man was shot dead by unidentified gunmen apparently over personal enmity in Orangi Town, police said on Saturday. The victim, Danish, son of Amir Hussain, died on the spot.

Preliminary investigations indicate the incident may have arisen from a personal enmity. However, his family insisted that he had no known enemies and that he spent his day teaching children the Holy Quran at home.

Danish's body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

Speaking to the media, Danish's family said he gradually lost his eyesight over time and was the eldest of four brothers, all visually impaired. His cousin, Hamad, said Danish's wedding was scheduled after Eid, and preparations had been underway the previous night.

The victim worked as a naib qasid at a government school in Baldia Town. Family said no valuables were stolen from the house, though three mobile phones were temporarily missing and later recovered near Shadab Ground. The phones had voice-active accessibility software for the visually impaired.

Hamad added that a police encounter had taken place near Shadab Ground shortly before the killing. Police have collected evidence from the scene and are investigating the incident from multiple angles.

A 14-month-old boy, Saifullah, son of Riaz Hussain, was allegedly strangulated by his stepmother in Steel Town, within the jurisdiction of Bin Qasim police station.

SHO Bin Qasim Faisal Rafiq said the child's body had marks suggesting strangulation. Hussain had two wives living separately in the same area. The parents had left Saifullah at his stepmother Afshan's house when the incident occurred.