Political worker among four killed in Karachi

Unidentified men hurled a cricket ball packed with explosives at a store in Landhi. No one was hurt in the incident.

KARACHI: A political worker among four people were killed, and at least one was wounded in the city on Wednesday while unidentified men hurled explosives at an electronics good store in Landhi.

A worker of Muttahida Qaumi Movement was shot dead when he was sitting at his shop in a market near Gulistan-e-Jauhar Chowrangi within the limits of Shara-e-Faisal police station. The deceased was identified as Anwar Abbas, 28, son of Hassan Abbas. DSP Shakeel Awan said that according to initial findings, two armed men riding a motorcycle called on the victim at the store. They shot him multiple times before fleeing the scene. The victim was taken to Darul Sehat Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. DSP Awan said that they were still trying to ascertain the motive behind the incident.

On Wednesday evening, unidentified men hurled an explosive packed cricket ball at a store in Landhi. DSP Iftikhar Lodhi of the Quaidabad police station, within whose remits the incident occurred, said that law enforcers immediately set off for the site upon learning about the incident and cordoned off the blast site. He told The Express Tribune that nobody was killed or injured in the attack.

The officer while quoting the shop’s owner, Abrar, said that the owner was closing his store for the day when two men riding a motorcycle passed by and threw a cricket ball packed with explosive material at the shop. The subsequent explosion damaged the gate and shutter of the shop.

DSP Lodhi said that the shop owner had denied having received any kind of threat or extortion slips. He added that they were investigating the matter and no clear motive for the attack had emerged so far. He added that no case has been registered over the incident.

Meanwhile, police said 38-year-old Sharbat Khan Mehsud, a labourer at the vegetable market was shot dead when he was sitting outside the New Sabzi Mandi on Super Highway. DSP Qamar Ahmed said that the deceased two armed men riding a motorcycle shot and killed him, apparently over personal enmity. The officer said that victim’s friend, Abdul Hameed was wounded when he tried to catch the culprits. Following the incident, the traders of the vegetable market staged a protest and blocked the Super Highway for vehicular traffic. DSP Ahmed said that the protesters dispersed peacefully after police assured them of full cooperation.

Abdul Majeed was shot dead on Super Highway within the limits of Sacchal police station. SHO Azhar Ali Iqbal said that the deceased used to run a diesel trading shop in the area. Majeed was standing outside his shop when he was shot dead by two armed men riding on motorcycle. SHO Iqbal suspected he was murdered over personal enmity, however further investigation into the incident were underway.

Police on Wednesday found the body of a young man, Noman aka Nomi, 28, from Mirza Adam Khan Road within Chakiwara police remits. Police officials said that unidentified culprits threw Noman's body from a rickshaw before escaping. They said that deceased was a resident of Bihar Colony area, adding that he might have been killed over suspicion of being a police informant.

Meanwhile, an alleged drug peddler, Haider Hussain, who was wounded during an armed clash between two drug peddling groups on Saturday in Orangi Town, succumbed to his injuries. He was receiving treatment at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Following his death, unidentified persons staged a protest and set two motorcycles on fire. An extra contingent of law enforcers was dispatched to the site who dispersed the protesters.