Cycle of violence: Medical professor among 6 slain in Karachi

KARACHI:

Six people, including a medical professor and a senior KESC official, were killed on Tuesday as the spate of targeted killings and bombings continued in Karachi.

Dr Asad Usman, an assistant professor of medicine at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, was shot dead by armed men near the Matric Board Office Chowrangi in North Nazimabad. Eyewitnesses reported that at least four armed men riding two motorcycles opened indiscriminate fire at Dr Usman’s vehicle.

Abbasi Shaheed Hospital additional medical superintendent, Dr Saleem told The Express Tribune that Dr Usman was shot at least thrice and died before he could be brought to the hospital. His police guard, Irfan, succumbed to injuries during treatment.

SSP Amir Farooqui said that a 9mm pistol was used in the killing and about 18 bullet shells were recovered from the crime scene. He added that CCTV footage from nearby cameras would help in the investigation.

Meanwhile, Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ) condemned the killing of Dr Usman and demanded the arrest of the culprits. ASWJ central leader Maulana Aurangzaib Farooqui said that after targeting scholars, criminals had started killing Sunni doctors.

In another incident in North Nazimabad, Farhan Khalil, a deputy general manager of KESC, was killed when a powerful bomb attached to his car exploded near Saifee College.

Khalil was on his way home from work when the explosion ripped through his car, killing him on the spot and wounding three passersby. Bomb Disposal Squad members said that at least one kilogram of explosive material was fitted to the victim’s car and a timer based triggering mechanism was used to explode the device.

DSP Haider Ali said the device was placed in the car while it was parked outside the victim’s office. It is understood that the deceased was also the joint in-charge of MQM unit 66-C, Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Upon receiving news of the bombing, MQM leaders, workers and KESC officials reached the hospital and demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits.

In the second targeted killing of a Pakistan Army soldier in less than 24 hours, Shoaib Ejaz, 26, was shot dead along with his friend Shafi aka Bhaiya, an MQM worker, by armed men in Shamsi Society, Malir.

Meanwhile, a surveyor of Pak Arab refinery, Mansoor Zakir, 43, was shot dead by armed men in Sharafi Goth area while he was travelling in his car. Similarly, Malik Iftikhar, was shot dead inside his house in Shah Faisal police precincts. Police could not ascertain the motive behind the killings.

During the day, armed men also shot dead Syed Ahmed Ali Zaidi near his house in Orangi Town. DSP Zahid Hussain said deceased was associated with the medical field.


Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2013.