MQM MPA Raza Haider killed, violence ensues

MQM MPA Raza Haider has been shot dead in the Nazimabad area on Monday.

MQM MPA Raza Haider was shot dead in the Nazimabad area on Monday.

Sources said Raza Haider was in Nazimabad to attend the funeral of a relative when six unidentified gunmen opened fire on him.

The MPA succumbed to his injuries on the way to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

Sporadic incidents of violence erupted across the city as reports of the murder started coming in.

The body guard of Raza haider was also killed in the incident.

Funeral prayers of Raza Haider will be held after Zuhr prayers on Tuesday at Bab-ul-Ain in Nazimabad.

MQM has announced a 3 day mourning period.

All educational institutions in Karachi will be closed tomorrow as a result of the incident.

End of live updates

11:10pm

The overall death toll in shootings has risen to eleven, with over people 35 injured.

Four people have been killed and 12 injured in shootings in Orangi, Sohrab Goth and Shareefabad.

The All Karachi Traders Union has announced market closure tomorrow.

10:40pm

According to The Express Tribune reporter Fawad Ali Shah, street lights have been shut across the city. Neither City District Government officials nor Cantonment Board Clifton Officials were ready to talk on why the street lights were shut.

Meanwhile according  ANP spokesperson has said three party workers named Naseem Afridi, Syed Khan and Murad Afridi have been shot dead in Pak colony.

According to reports the number of injuries in the ongoing riots in the city has risen to 23.

10:30pm

Speaking on 'Witness with Quatrina' MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi said that a high level inquiry should be made into the killing of the MPA and that the inquiry should come up with names of the perpetrators.

One Mohammad Sher, 23, has been  gunned down near Nadria hotel, Nazimabad within the limits of Rizvia police station. Police said he was killed in the riots.

@abidifactor 2 Innocent watchman shot dead in Gulshan Bungalows Gulestan-e-Juhar Block 19 #karachi

@salmansid my mother is stuck in Bahadurabad. Sister called me up to say firing is very intense in Gulshane Iqbal, behind National Stadium. #Karachi

@RaxaXaidi All Gas Stations Shut Down Already In Karachi May Almighty Have Mercy On Us..

10:15pm

Four dead bodies and 15 injured persons have been received at the JPMC, Dr Semi Jamali Incharge Emergency and Accident Center told The Express Tribune.

The body of Umair son of Asmatulah, 22, was brought from Abul Hasan Ispahani road. He received three bullets according to the MLO at JMPC.

Imam Bux, 30, son of Ghulam Rasool , was shot dead in Korangi after the incident and his body was also shifted to the JMPC. According to the doctors he received two bullets.

Noor Zaman, 44, son of Badhshah Khan was killed in New Karachi. He was killed in the riots that followed the murder of the MQM MPA.

Shahi Hussain, 30, son of Fida Hussain was killed in Landhi and his body was brought to the JMPC by the ambulance of a rescue service. Doctors said he received four bullets.

10:00pm

Funeral prayers of MQM MPA Raza Haider will be held after Zuhr prayers on Tuesday.

MQM has announced three days of mourning.

Karachi University has postponed all exams to be held tomorrow.

Karachi Board of Secondary Education has deferred the announcement of pre-medical results.

@mshoaibyaseen 2 persons injured in my area by anonymous firing. Gulzar-e-Hijri #karachi #mqm

@Saba_Imtiaz Aerial firing still going on outside the house (Phase 2, DHA), an hour after it started. #Karachi

9:55pm

Death toll rises to 5, with 10 others injured in ongoing violence across Karachi.

9:40pm

One person killed, 10 injured in shootings in various areas.

9:35pm

In Hyderabad, as news of the murder spread markets closed and youth burnt tyres in protest on the streets. Express News Cameraman Shakeel was attacked and his camera was destroyed. A wheel jam strike has also been announced in Hyderabad. There is no sign of police as rioters run rampant.

9:25pm

A petrol pump in Korangi No.5 has been set on fire.

Exams to be held at Urdu University have been postponed.

@Farman21 again heard some gun shots in #gulshan #Karachi#Pakistan

@altruistic92 3-day mourning announced in #karachi

9:20pm

Chief Secretary Sindh has said educational institutions will remain closed in Karachi tomorrow.

Four more vehicles set ablaze in Korangi.

Over 15 vehicles set ablaze in different areas of Karachi so far.

9:15pm

Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that the MQM should wait for the investigation before any response.

MQM leaders have given strong statements regarding the murder of MQM MPA Raza Haider

Babar Ghauri

We will not rest until the culprits are caught. This city and province has been treated like a joke. Now if no action is taken, MQM will not be able to control the people.

Raza Haroon

On July 24, Shahi Syed gave threatening comments about revenge and taking up arms, we believe that investigations should begin with Shahi Syed and ANP leaders.

Waseem Aftab

How long will you ask us for patience? We have been patient and have asked for people to be patient. There is a limit for everything, two hundred of our workers have been killed and now our representatives are also being targeted. Those who have the power should not be silent witnesses anymore.

@beenasarwar RT @sabeen: Got home from Tipu Sultan Rd via Karsaz flyover. Sh-e-Faisal towards airport jammed. Other side empty, ghostly #Karachi

@shyyawn stuck in johar block 2 on side road, can some one give news on kamran chorangi, johar chorangi and johar more. Karachi #fb

@SerepticuS A friend's car got burned in 'protest' tonight in #Karachi. The ppl who did it were more excited than mourning as if they were celebrating!

9:00pm

The body has been released from Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and the Namaz-e-Janaza will be held at Bab-ul-Ain in Nazimabad.

According to Express 24/7 reporter Masror Huseen dozens of vehicles have been torched in the city.

MQM Chief Altaf Hussain says the murder of Raza Haider is a tragedy.

@BeingSamee: Breaking all signals....finally reach near hill park karachi. precisely near Imtiaz super store !//so ur ready to be mugged

@furhanhussain Stuck in in a friend's relative's home. Classes got cancelled, gave up after driving in defence #karachi for an hour.

@oa204: he was such a nice humble and a peace loving person raza haider #karachi

@kadnan Funeral cermony of Raza Hyder will be held at Imam Bargah Babul Ilm,North Nazimabad. Residents of N.Nazd! stay safe at homes #karachi #mqm

@HumaImtiaz Firing going on outside my apartment in Phase 2 Ext, DHA. Just heard someone yell "close all the shops". #Karachi ~ b safe

8:45pm

Twenty-three vehicles have been set ablaze in Banaras, Landhi, Ispahani road, Nazimabad and Gulistan-e-Johar areas of Karachi.

People are stranded on roads as public transport has stopped functioning. Petrol pumps around the city have also closed down.

8:35pm

PPP leader Shazia Marri says there have been 878 killings in Karachi since January.

@haroonurasheed Two trucks have been burnt on hub road #karachi

@kashaziz Karachi should be handed over to Army and full scale search operation should be performed.

@danishkhi @ahkath Gulshan, Joher, Landhi, Korangi...... firing reports from all over Karachi

8:30pm

Ten injured in shootings in Landhi, SITE, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Baldia Town and Korangi.

Massive traffic jams reported near PIDC/Sheraton.

@haroonurasheed #Azizabad only area of #karachi , where firing is not going, I was outside sometime before.

@arfeen77 back home, too much traffic jam around tariq road,bahdurabad,hassan square..bad situation in #karachi #fb

8:25pm

Markets have been closed down in Manzoor Colony, Saddar town.

Markets also closed down in Hyderabad in wake of MPA's killing.

@usman_qamar #firing start again in gulshan iqbal block -10 #karachi

8:20pm

Emergency meeting of MQM Rabita Committee underway at 90.

Three people injured in shooting incident in Landhi.

Eleven vehicles set ablaze in different areas of Karachi.

8:15pm

In a press statement ANP Leader Shahi Syed has condemned the killing of Raza Haider and demanded that the government investigate the case and take severe action against the assailants.

Shahi Syed said the ANP is saddened by the incident and that MQM leaders should refrain from giving hostile statements for the sake of peace in the city.

He said that sectarian violence cannot be ignored and appealed that the public stay calm and not indulge in hostile activities.

He also said that ANP condemns all cases of terrorism.

@sanakazmi my friend just saw a man firing at punjab chowrangi #karachi

8:10pm

Nince vehicles have been set ablaze in different areas.

Rangers and Police officials have said negotiations are the only way to contain the violence.

MPA Raza Haider was an active spokesperon against sectarian violence.

8:00pm

According to The Express Tribune Reporter Fawad Ali Shah, four vehicles have been set ablaze in Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

Filling stations shut down in different areas of Karachi.

MPA Raza Haider was murdered when he was performing abulation inside the mosque.

@sanakazmi lots of people - inc. women - stuck on shahrah-e-faisal waiting for buses. should start a volunteer rideshare for times like these. #karachi

@sanakazmi @desmukh there was some firing from/near the flyover at nipa when i passed by half an hour ago. #karachi

@smmohiuddin 23 Vehicles Burnt in Karachi since 6:15pm - Sources

7:53pm

Aeriel firing being reported in Tariq Road and various areas of Karachi.

DIG East Ameer Sheikh to head the inquiry committee.

MQM MPA killed

Incidents of sporadic firing are being reported in the city. Two people have been injured in firing incidents in SITE area following the MPA's murder. Unidentified people have also set fire to a bus on Ispahani road. Traffic jams in various areas are also being reported. Security has been beefed up across the city. Citizens are facing great difficulty as public transport is nowhere to be seen.

Raza Haider was targeted by six unidentified gunmen after he had attended a funeral. He was injured as a result of the shooting and succumbed to his injuries on the way to Abbasi Shaheed hospital. According to initial reports Raza Haider received a bullet to his head. There are conflicting reports of the MPAs gunman being killed in the attack as well. Raza Haider had reportedly received threats from an extremist group.

Police and Rangers have cordoned off the area and all markets have been closed in the area.

MQM demands action

MQM Spokesman Waseem Aftab, speaking to the media at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, said that the Sindh Government and Federal Government should not ask for patientce, but should take action against the elements who were disrupting peace in Karachi.

He said his party is a victim of target killings and people ask the party when target killings would stop.

He called for action against ANP leader Shahi Syed and all other elements who have been disrupting the peace.

Rizvi calls for patience

MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi pleaded for calm and said that terrorists wanted to spread chaos in Karachi. He said that according to reports, two workers of MQM were also killed in the attack.

Malik pleads for calm

Interior Minister Rehman Malik condemned the murder and appealed to the citizens of Karachi to remain calm.

Speaking to the media he requested that speculation on the murder of Raza Haider should avoided till investigations are completed.

He also indicated that the authorities had some 'clues' as to who could be behind the attack.