Murder mysteries: Four people killed in separate acts of violence

The victims included a 16-year-old student.

KARACHI:

At least four people, including a political worker, were killed in separate acts of violence on Tuesday.

The body of a young man was found in a gunny bag at Northern Bypass, within the jurisdiction of the Mauripur police station. SHO Mohammad Atif said that the victim, 35-year-old Jamil Mubarak, son of Mohammad Mubarak, was kidnapped from outside his home in Masroor Colony, Maripur.

He added that the family had approached the police after his disappearance. Mubarak was affiliated to a political party and was an employee of the Government Post Office. He belonged to the Kutchi community and had two children. SHO Atif said that the murder might be politically motivated and investigation is in progress. His body was taken to Civil Hospital for an autopsy. On behalf of the victim’s brother, Aslam, an FIR has been registered against three alleged Lyari gangsters, namely Ashok, Nazeer aka Mechanic and Chief.

The body of 29-year-old Khalid, son of Qadir Buksh, was also found from the Northern Bypass. He was a resident of Baloch Mohalla, Sher Shah. Officials said that Khalid was a labourer and went missing on Monday. The police said that the victim was shot in the head after being kidnapped.

In another incident, 40-year-old Niaz, son of Saeed, was shot dead near New Sabzi Mandi on the Super Highway, within the limits of the Sohrab Goth police station. DSP Iftikhar Lodhi said that the three armed men riding a motorcycle shot Niaz thrice as he was on his way to work. He died on the spot. His body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. DSP Lodhi said that the victim was a civilian employee of Pakistan Navy. He added that initial investigations have led law enforcers to believe that the he was killed over a personal enmity.

The body of a matriculation student was found in a nullah in Pathan Colony, within the limits of the SITE A police station. The victim was identified as 16-year-old Tariq Shah, son of Muzammil Shah. SHO Rao Rafiq said that the victim was strangled to death. He added that there that the culprits may have also sexually assaulted the victim before killing him, but this would be confirmed after a chemical examination.

In the meantime, the police  chief struggled to assure that everything was being done to maintain peace in Karachi. “The Lyari operation will be carried out at an appropriate time while the police have always been targeted when they conduct an operation against the criminals,” said the IG Sindh, Syed Mushtaq Shah, after the funeral prayers of SP Shah Muhammad, who was killed on Monday in Korangi.

The IG said that police officials sacrifice their lives to protect lives and properties of people but they have always been targeted, adding that they were doing a good job in spite of poor law and order. He said that it is possible that the peace of the city is being deliberately destroyed.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2012.