PML-N youth wing member killed in Karachi cafe firing, FIR registered

Police obtain CCTV footage, begin further investigation

KARACHI:

A case has been registered at Karachi's Gulistan-e-Johar police station on Friday over a firing incident at a cafe during a dispute in which one young man was killed and another injured. The FIR names four suspects, including the cafe manager and security guard, along with unidentified persons. Police had earlier detained six individuals, including the cafe manager and security guard, and shifted them to the police station.

During the late night between Thursday and Friday, a firing incident took place at a cafe in Block 1 of Gulistan-e-Johar police station limits, resulting in the death of 22-year-old Najeebullah, son of Niaz Ali, and injuries to another young man, Adnan, son of Khalid Hussain.

A case of murder and attempted murder (FIR No. 26/369) was registered on the complaint of the deceased’s brother, Mubashir Ali, at Gulistan-e-Johar police station. The nominated suspects include Jahanzaib, cafe manager Mehdi, Hussain Shah, security guard Akramullah, and unidentified persons.

According to police officials, some young men had entered the cafe and sat in the family section, upon which the management asked them to leave. They initially went back but later returned with more people, after which an argument broke out and the situation escalated into violence.

Read: Sindh Rangers arrest ‘papa gang’ leader in Karachi

During the confrontation, some individuals allegedly attempted to snatch a weapon from the security guard, who was pushed to the ground and beaten. Police said the guard then opened fire, resulting in one death and one injury.

Police have also obtained CCTV footage of the incident and have begun further investigation. They added that further legal proceedings will follow after the completion of the inquiry.

On the other hand, a friend of the deceased and president of the youth wing, Zohaib, confirmed that the deceased belonged to the PML-N youth wing. Zohaib said children from the area used to visit the sheesha cafe, where drugs were allegedly being used openly, which is why youth wing members had come to the cafe area to check the situation and stop children from visiting.

He said they had also asked the cafe owners to shut down the “illegal business,” but they did not comply.

Read more: CCTV blow to claims as deadly firing mystery unravels

PS-100 PML-N office bearer Taufiq Ahmed Mangi said Najeeb was an office bearer and member of the organising committee. He said some young men came to speak to the café management about stopping drugs and the café operations, but the security guard misbehaved.

When Najeeb tried to intervene, the cafe owner, his son, and three to four others allegedly pulled out pistols and opened fire. Mangi said a bullet hit Najeeb in the chest, and he died on the spot, while another worker trying to help him was pushed and also shot in the foot.

He further alleged that the cafe owner openly claimed that they paid Rs300,000 to Rs400,000 as a bribe to the police and said no one could harm them as he was the son of an Senior Superintendent of Police.

Mangi added that the café owner and his associates had been involved in previous incidents of firing, injuring several people, and killing a young man.