Political party activist among eight people shot dead

The police arrested two suspects from the TTP who were planning an attack on Eidul Fitr.

KARACHI: Eight men, including a political activist, were gunned down in the city from Monday to Wednesday.

In Orangi Town, 45-year-old Shahid Siddiqui was shot dead near his house, said the Pakistan Bazaar police. They claim that Siddiqui was walking out of a barbershop in Gulshan-e-Bihar when unidentified men opened fire at him on Monday. They said that he was affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

A man identified as 32-year-old Bakar Ali was killed in Naval Colony, Baldia Town, said the Mauripur police. They claimed that Ali, a resident of Ittehad Town, was driving somewhere when unidentified men on a motorcycle shot him on Tuesday. The body was taken to Civil Hospital, Karachi.

A man idenitified as 30-year-old Shafiq was shot dead in North Karachi, said the Khawaja Ajmair Nagri police.

They claimed that Shafiq worked as a labourer and was from a Seraiki family. According to the police, Shafiq was sleeping outside his house when unidentified men attacked him. The body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

The body of a man identified as Noman alias Nomi was found near Yousuf Haroon Road, said the Risala police. The police claim that Noman was reported as missing and was a resident of Lyari. The body was taken to Civil Hospital, Karachi.

The Airport police found the body of 75-year-old Maher Bai.

They suspect that Maher Bai’s husband, an alleged drug addict, killed her with a sharp object.

The body was taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. The police claimed that Maher Bai was from Rahim Yar Khan and was living in Jamali Colony, Gulshan-e-Iqbal. A man identified as Aurangzaib, 32, was gunned down outside his house near Manghopir Road, said the Pirabad police. The body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. They claimed that the family was not cooperating with the police. Initial investigation suggests that his brother might have killed him.

The body of a security guard was found in Orangi Town, said the Iqbal Market police. The guard was identified as 55-year-old Khawer and used to work for a private school. The body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

Tension gripped Old City areas after a MQM supporter was injured in firing near Kharadar. Asif was taken to Civil Hospital, Karachi. District S outh SSP Asif Ejaz Sheikh said that at least half dozen men on three motorcycles opened fire at people and injured Asif.

Two groups had a clash in Block 7, Gulberg, the police claim that no one was killed or injured.

In Lyari, at least five people, including a woman, were injured when unidentified men opened fire in Moosa Lane. The injured were taken to Civil Hospital, Karachi. The police claim that the incident took place in a group clash during a Qawwali on Wednesday. No arrests were made and no case was registered.

The body of an unidentified man was found in Khuda ki Basti by the Surjani police.

Busted

Law enforcement agencies claim to have arrested two men from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) during a raid in Manghopir. They said that the suspects were caught on a tip off. The police seized a map of Karachi, hand grenades and other weapons from them.

They suspect that the men were planning an attack on Eidul Fitr. The suspects were taken to an undisclosed location for further questioning.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2012.