Karachi violence: Four dead in incidents of targeted killing

Unidentified gunmen killed Haji Mohammad Din Babar, local leader of the Pakhtun Action Committee.

KARACHI: At least four people including a local leader of the Pakhtun Action Committee (PAC) were killed on Tuesday, while four Station House Officers (SHO) were suspended over their failure to prevent target killing incidents.

In the latest incident, unidentified culprits gunned down 75-year-old Haji Mohammad Din Babar in the North Nazimabad area of Karachi. He was shot four times and was taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where he succumbed to his injuries. He was a senior member of the PAC and was father of four children.

SHO Nadir Khan confirmed that the incident was an act of targeted killing, however police were yet to ascertain a motive for the murder. The officer said that two armed men riding a motorcycle came close to him when Babar, who as per routine was sitting in a garden outside his house.

An Awami National Party (ANP) spokesman condemned the incident and said that the deceased was a senior member who had been killed as part of the ongoing violence. He, demanded that the government arrest the culprits behind the murder.

Three other people were also killed in similar incidents of targeted killing in the city.

Soon after the murder of Haji Babar, the situation in the Pakhtun-dominated areas turned tense and incidents of aerial firing was reported in the disputed areas including Sohrab Goth, Abul Hassan Isphani road, Quaidabad, Orangi town, Kati Pahari, Safora Goth, Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Keamari.