Drive-by shootings: As 10 more people die, CM gives families compensation

Nine people were injured in a grenade attack just off Quaidabad Bridge.

KARACHI:

The vice-like grip of violence has tightened on Karachi again as seven people died in targeted attacks and one more in a grenade attack on Wednesday. On the other hand, the chief minister distributed compensation cheques to the families of targeted killings.

The killings

An alleged gangster identified as Aslam Niazi, alias Commando, was gunned down near Niazi Chowk in Lyari. SHO Safdar Mashwani said that he was associated with the Lyari gangsters and the Peoples Amn Committee.

The law and order situation in Malir, Saudabad, Orangi Town, Baldia, Gulistan-e-Jauhar and PECHS was disturbed as seven more people, including three Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers, were killed in drive-by shootings.

In Malir, two motorcyclists shot and killed 45-year-old Khursheed Iqbal in Saudabad. SHO Imdad Solangi said that Iqbal was the former MQM nazim of union council No. 5.

Another MQM activist, 34-year-old Zubair, was shot dead similarly early in the morning in Liaquat Market.

Hasnain Malik, 35, another MQM activist was gunned down in Durrani Goth, Orangi Town. The police said that he was sitting at a teashop near his house when he was shot dead. SHO Sabir Hassain said that the victim was a real-estate agent and had recently left Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and joined the MQM. His son, Altaf Malik, had also been killed similarly on April 2.

Meanwhile in Baldia Town, two brothers, Saeed and Mujeeb, were gunned down in Gulshan-e-Mazdoor,  Saeedabad. SHO Tariq Islam said that they were killed over personal enmity.

A 41-year-old Sardar Hussain, was killed near Banaras when he was  standing at a bus stop.

Another unidentified man was killed near Mir Alam Road. The police said that the victim was abducted by about four men who blindfolded him and then shot him dead in an abandoned place.

The funeral of the former union council No.7, Anwar Alam, kept PECHS, Tariq Road, Tipu Sultan Road, Khalid bin Waleed Road and Sharah-e-Quaideen on the edge. Alam was killed on Tuesday evening in PECHS. A rickshaw driver was also gunned down in Saddar.

Grenade attack

A young waiter died and eight others were injured in a grenade attack when two motorcyclists hurled a grenade from the Quaidabad Bridge as they drove by.

The grenade exploded near two teashops called Allah Malik Hotel and New Quetta Noorani Hotel. The injured men were taken to Jinnah hospital where 33-year-old Wajahat died. He hailed from Quetta and worked as a waiter at Allah Malik Hotel. Others were identified as Faizullah, Yasir, Nasir, Mohammad Sadiq, Bashir Ahmad and Javed.

The arrests

Sindh police’s Crime Investigation Department has claimed to have nabbed an alleged militant, Nawaz Khan, alias Shah Jee, affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. According to SSP Fayyaz Khan five kilogrammes of explosive material, three detonators, seven metres of detonating wire and a TT pistol were seized from him.

Compensation

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah distributed compensation cheques worth Rs0.2 million on Wednesday among the legal heirs of the victims of targeted killings in Karachi. According to an inquiry commission set up by Sindh government, around 476 people were targeted in 2011. The provincial government has sanctioned over Rs90 million for compensation.

Although a large number of families and heirs were present at Chief Minister House, only 16 families were paid.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2012.