Target killing: Central, Malir jail officials gunned down

Both the men received multiple bullet wounds and died at the spot.

KARACHI: Two superintendents of the Central Jail, Karachi and District Malir Jail were gunned down near NIPA Chowrangi late on Saturday evening.

The victims were identified as assistant superintendent of Central Jail Karachi Pir Masood Jan Sarhandi and Suprintendent Malir Jail Abdul Razzak Abbasi were targeted by gunmen within the Gulshan-e-Iqbal police station limits.

District East DIG Shahid Hayat told The Express Tribune that unidentified armed motorcyclists had sprayed the victims' silver Suzuki Cultus car, registration number AKY-718, with bullets near NIPA while travelling towards Safoora Chowrangi.

Both the victims received multiple bullet wounds and died on the spot. Their bodies were first taken to the Patel Hospital in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, but were later moved to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medico-legal formalities where Jail officials also reached.

DIG Hayat said that per initial investigations at least four armed men on two motorcycles had attacked the two men. He added that the men pulled abreast the victim's car on either side and fired at its occupants.

Sarhandi was also said to be the nephew of the former Central Jail Superintendent Shabbir Jan Sarhandi. DIG Hayat though was quick to dispel speculations and said that the motive behind the attack could only be ascertained once investigations have been completed.