Third ASWJ man gunned down in 48 hours

Another activist of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, formerly known as Sipah-e-Sahaba, was gunned down on Tuesday.

KARACHI: One more activist of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), formerly known as Sipah-e-Sahaba, was gunned down on Tuesday, bringing the death toll of this party’s activists to three in the past 48 hours.

The victim was identified as 35-year-old Mushtaq alias Lala, son of Abdul Aziz. He was shot dead early Tuesday in Manzoor Colony, Mehmoodabad, which falls within the jurisdiction of Baloch Colony Police Station.

According to SHO Mir Samad, unidentified motorcyclists shot Mushtaq while he was sitting inside his shop, Aziz Chemical, situated in Mehmoodabad No 6. The police rushed to the store immediately and moved the injured to Jinnah hospital, where he died during treatment. Mushtaq, a father of six children, was also a resident of the same area, said the police.

ASWJ spokesperson Ehsanullah Farooqi said that Mushtaq was the party’s president for Mehmoodabad division. Mushtaq’s murder was a case of targeted killing, he alleged.

The attacks on members of ASWJ began after the firing on the Youm-e-Ali (RA) procession on September 1, in which at least four members of the Shia sect were injured. Following Mushtaq’s murder on Tuesday, several members of the ASWJ took to the streets. They blocked the road in Mehmoodabad and suspended traffic and business activities. The protesters shouted slogan against the government and demanded the authorities arrest the killers. A heavy contingent of the police and paramilitary rangers had to come in to disperse the protesters.

On September 5, an activist of the ASWJ, 30-year-old Rehan Laiq was killed when he was returning home after offering prayers at Chishtia Mosque in Shah Faisal Colony No 4. On September 6, Ghayas Din, an ASWJ member, was shot dead in Lines Area near the City District Government Karachi’s parking plaza within the jurisdiction of Brigade police station.

Even though, the attacks are taking place on a daily basis, the law-enforcement agencies have yet to make any arrests.

Bandit killed in police encounter

A bandit, who appeared to be 19 years old, was gunned down in an encounter with the police on Tuesday at Regal Chowk within the jurisdiction of Preedy police station. According to SSP Javed Akbar Riaz, two unidentified men entered the Swiss money changer near Paradise Hotel and started looting valuables and cash from customers and employees. But they were forced to flee when the hostages created uproar.

When the bandits reached Regal Chowk, a mobile unit from the Preedy police intercepted them. The bandits opened fire at the police van and the resulting exchange of fire killed one of the bandits while another suspect managed to escape.

The police also claimed to have recovered a hand-grenade and TT pistols from the deceased bandit.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2010.