There seems to be no respite in targeted killings in Ramazan, as five more people, a senior activist of the Pakistan Peoples Party and a shopkeeper, were gunned down on Monday.
Only a day before, the Sindh chief minister had claimed targeted killing incidents have reduced “because of effective steps taken by the government”.
Since the start of Ramazan, at least 17 people have been shot dead across Karachi. The trend continued on Monday, as Sardar Imam Bakhsh Baloch, 70, a member of PPP Sindh Council, fell victim to gun-toting gangsters. He was targeted in his car near Gulshan-e-Kaneez Fatima Society in Sacchal police limits late on Sunday. His driver, Aqeel, was also injured in the attack.
The police said that two men on a motorcycle shot Baloch at least four times.
The PPP leader lived in Gharibabad and was a well-known figure in the area. The victim’s brother, Sardar Majeed Baloch, said that the deceased had no enmity with anyone and the family itself was trying to figure out the reason behind the murder.
The PPP activist’s funeral was held outside the Baloch Masjid, and was laid to rest at the Essa Nagri graveyard. Condemning the incident, President Asif Ali Zardari has called for an inquiry into Baloch’s murder.
“The killing of PPP leaders, workers and supporters in Karachi is a conspiracy to provoke the party against its rival political organisations,” claimed PPP District Central leader Sohail Abidi.
At Joria Bazaar in Lyari, a trader was gunned down. Qasim Shah Baloch, 28, was sitting outside his house when two armed men shot him.
SHO Chand Khan Niazi said the victim had no political or religious affiliations. A police official, identified as Fazal Mehmood, was shot dead in Orangi Town. District West Zone SSP Amir Farooqui told The Express Tribune that the initial investigation has led law enforcers to believe that at least five armed men riding a motorcycle shot and killed Mehmood when he was on the way to a mosque to offer Isha prayers.
In a separate incident, a young man, identified as Waheed, was gunned down in the Doli Khata area.
A body was found with the jurisdiction of the Garden police.
Arrests
Mauripur police claimed to have arrested six suspects and seized weapons and narcotics during a raid in 500-Quarters and Ali Village. SHO Shafiq Tanoli said the targeted operation was against two notorious target killers, Mohammad Shah and Mehram Rustam, who were wanted by the police in more than 25 cases.
Meanwhile, police also arrested a suspect involved in the Sohrab Goth shootout on Saturday. DSP Iftikhar Lodhi said that Tariq Gul and his accomplice were arrested from Jannat Gul Town and two pistols were seized from them.
Tariq was allegedly involved in the killing of four people during a clash with a rival group at Sohrab Goth.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 24th, 2012.
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MQM and Provincial government is responsible for all these killings.
There is a complete failure in the part of the Provincial government. MQM , PPP and ANP are responsible for this mayhem. They dont have any remorse for the killings in karachi.