Karachi killings: Three men shot dead, alleged TTP member arrested

There were reports that one victim was associated with the Peoples Amn Committee.

KARACHI:

During a relatively calm day in the city, three people were killed and an alleged member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was also caught on Wednesday.

The owner of a cold-drink shop was gunned down in Fatima Jinnah Colony, in the limits of Jamshed Quarters police. The victim was 32-year-old Adnan and used to run Ali Mama Cold Spot. DSP Qaiser Ali Shah said that Adnan was sitting at his shop when at two motorcyclists shot at him multiple times. He was rushed to Civil hospital where he died. Shah said that initial investigation suggested that Adnan was killed because he refused to pay extortion.  Another man, 33-year-old Mohammad Riaz Baloch, aka Chohta Rehman, was killed in C-1 area, in Liaquatabad. The victim used to live in Shah Faisal Mohalla of Orangi Town and had come to Liaquatabad to visit his uncle.

There were unconfirmed reports that Baloch was associated with the outlawed Peoples Amn Committee (PAC), however, SHO Rustam Khattak denied this and claimed that he was killed because he was Baloch. The body was taken to Civil hospital.

Separately, 30-year-old Kashif was shot dead near Kala Pull railway crossing. The police said that he lived in Masoom Shah Colony and worked at a private garments factory. The police suspect that Kashif was killed over personal enmity.

An alleged TTP member was caught from Kunwari Colony in Maghopir after a brief encounter. He was identified as Nazeerullah Mehsud and arms were also found from his possession. The police claim that Mehsud has confessed to killing two people, including a Crime Investigation Department member, Khan Mohammad. He was also booked in extortion cases in Manghopir.

A constable who used to work in the extremist cell of the Crime Investigation Department, Wahid Buksh, who was injured in an attack on July 19, passed away on Wednesday. Wahid, and another constable identified as Abid Hussain Rizvi, were injured in an attack near Ayesha Manzil, said Jauharabad police. They said that they were on their way to work when unidentified men opened fire on them. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2012.