Violence: 10 more killed in Karachi

KARACHI:

At least 10 more people were gunned down in drive-by shootings in Karachi, where about 30 people have lost their lives in fresh sectarian and political violence in January.

A Shia from Gilgit-Baltistan, Naeem Abbas, 26, who had arrived in Karachi two months ago, was shot in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. A vegetable seller from Swat, Omar Rahman, 40, was shot dead in Bawani Chali.

A 56-year-old watchman Mohammad Ahmed was gunned down and his brother Sameer, 26, was injured in a drive-by shooting in Ramswamy. Twenty-four-year-old Amir was gunned down in Yousuf Goth. Three men in their car were ambushed and killed by armed motorcyclists in Sector 5 near the Bachat Bazaar as well.

A receptionist and security guard were killed and at least three others were wounded when men attacked a Telenor franchise in North Nazimabad. This was the fourth time terrorists have attacked franchises of telecommunication companies, in what the police say is a Tehreek-i-Taliban extortion racket.

Elsewhere, a retired captain, who worked as a dermatologist, was gunned down near Malir Railway crossing. The 62-year-old Dr Ashfaq Ahmed Qazi was on his way to his clinic. Police suspected sectarian motives as he subscribed to the Deoband school of thought and his two sons are muftis at Darul Uloom, Korangi.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2012.