Trader gunned down in suspected targeted attack

Police find no evidence of robbery as two motorcycle-borne gunmen target businessman

KARACHI:

A 48-year-old trader was shot dead in his car by two unidentified armed men in Ayub Goth on Tuesday, with police initially treating the killing as a suspected targeted attack after finding no evidence of robbery.

The victim was identified as Imran Gogun, son of Muhammad Ghulam. According to Sohrab Goth SHO Gul Baig, the deceased was driving his car from Sohrab Goth towards New Karachi when two armed men riding a motorcycle opened fire near Sadat Dastarkhwan.

One bullet pierced the car's window and struck Gogun in the neck, killing him on the spot. The SHO said there were no apparent signs of a robbery, strengthening the initial suspicion that he had been deliberately targeted.

Gogun's friend and social activist Sarim Burney said the victim owned a paint manufacturing factory and described him as a kind-hearted person who, to his knowledge, had no enmity with anyone.

Burney said Gogun had two wives and four children, two from each marriage. He had residences in PIB Colony and Bahadurabad. According to Burney, initial information suggested that Gogun had been travelling to collect some supplies for work when his car came under attack.

Police, meanwhile, said reports had also emerged that Gogun may have been associated with a private news website, but the claim had not yet been independently verified.