The deceased, who had been with the organisation since 1990, was shot on Haroonabad Road near Aziz-i-Millat School as on his way from his book binding shop. Witnesses told the police that a woman standing close by was also injured in the firing. She as well as Shakir were taken to a hospital, where they were both pronounced dead.
Dr Abdur Razzaq of the District Headquarters Hospital said that the two were already dead when they were brought to the hospital. Hafiz Zakariya, a brother of the deceased, has registered an FIR against the unidentified assailants with the B Division police.
Shakir’s killing was followed by a series of condemnations from the organisation’s supporters and protests in several areas of the city. They also called for a strike by the traders and business community.
Police said Shakir, 55, was an active member of the SSP and had a strong association with the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ). He had served as the ASWJ information secretary and its district president.
They said he had been arrested following the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team and was named in several criminal cases along with SSP president Malik Muhammad Ishaq. The deceased had also been named as a suspect in the attacks on former president Pervez Musharraf.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2012.
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