On the edge: Protest call shuts down Karachi

Most markets remain closed as the city reels from the after-effects of attack on ASWJ leader.

KARACHI:

Most areas of Karachi remained shut on Wednesday in anticipation of violence a day after the leader of a banned sectarian outfit escaped a brazen assassination attempt. The closure came following a “mourning call” announced for the day by the Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat, formerly Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, against the attack on its Karachi chief that claimed the lives of six people.

Four policemen, a guard and the driver of Maulana Aurangzeb Farooqui were shot dead Tuesday noon in Gulshan-e-Iqbal as his motorcade was ambushed near Moti Mahal. The assassination bid triggered further violence and at least seven more people were gunned down later in the day.

Most wholesale markets in the Old city areas remained closed as the city reeled from the after-effects. Most petrol pumps and CNG stations also preferred to go offline while public transport vehicles also remained off the roads. The examinations at University of Karachi were also put off due to the uncertain situation.

Besides the Old City areas, Orangi Town, Patel Para, Lasbella, Nagan Chowrangi, Surjani Town, New Karachi, North Karachi, Shershah, Shah Faisal Colony, Korangi, Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Banaras were the worst-affected areas where armed men on motorcycles took to the roads, firing in the air and forcing shopkeepers to pull down their shutters. At least seven people, identified as Gulzar Ali, Abdul Qadir, Mohammad Ali, Aziz Ahmed, Javed, Arshad and Ishaq, were injured in such incidents. Around half a dozen suspects allegedly involved in forcible closure of shops were detained by law enforcers in Paposh Nagar. The activists and supporters of ASWJ also staged protests.

Investigations

Five activists of another banned religious outfit, Sipah-e-Mohammad Pakistan, were arrested by the police in Gulshan-e-Iqbal for alleged involvement in the attack on ASWJ’s Karachi chief. The suspects, identified as Zulfiqar, Azadar, Altaf, Iftikhar and Zeeshan Haider, were shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

Another young man being treated for gunshot injuries at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital was taken in custody, police said. Kashif was found innocent during investigation, said DSP Farhat Kamal. Initial investigation suggests the assailants used  9mm pistols, .222 rifles, sub-machine guns  to target Aurangzeb Farooqui’s convoy. No case had been registered till this report was written.

Funeral prayers

The funerals of three policemen who died in the attack were held at the Garden police headquarters. The prayers were led by ASWJ chief Maulana Mohammad Ahmed Ludhianvi. DIG Shahid Hayat, DIG Imran Yaqoob Minhas, DIG Manzur Mughal and DIG Khurram Gulzar among others paid tribute to the slain policemen.

The funeral prayers of the cleric’s driver, Abdul Wakeel, were offered in Landhi, where Ludhianvi headed the prayers.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2012.