2 killed, 5 injured in ‘mystery’ firing
Two people are killed and five others injured in firing near the Post Office Square in Liaquatabad on Monday.
KARACHI:
At least two people were killed and five others injured in firing near the Post Office Square in Liaquatabad on Monday when members of the Shia community were protesting against the target killings of their fellow sect members in Karachi.
The details of the incident remain unclear as the Jaffaria Alliance Pakistan (JAP) says that Pakistan Rangers personnel opened fire on the Shia protesters without any reason. “The Rangers opened indiscriminate fire on them without any prior notice,” said JAP spokesman Ali Ahmer.
“At least two members of the Shia sect were killed and five injured according to the information we have received,” Ahmer told The Express Tribune.
Eyewitnesses say the incident took place after the Shia protesters were returning from the funeral of a sect member, who was killed on Sunday night.
They were chanting slogans against the government for its failure to curb target killings in the city.
The Pakistan Rangers issued a handout, according to which some people, who were passing near Post Office Square in Liaquatabad, suddenly opened fire at the police and Rangers, who retaliated in self-defence.
The bodies and the injured were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. “Three bodies and five injured have been brought to the hospital so far,” said Dr Shiraz, the MLO at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
Two of the deceased have been identified as Shahzaib Abbas, son of Irshad Hussain and Nasir Ali, son of Wahed Ali. The identity of the third person could not be ascertained yet and it was not confirmed if he died in the same incident.
“Two of the injured men are in a critical condition,” the MLO added.
Soon after the incident occurred, riots erupted in different areas of the city including Malir, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Liaquatabad, Golimar, Rizvia and Abul Ispahani Road and a number of shops and vehicles were set ablaze.
According to the police, five vehicles, most of them passenger buses, and 20 roadside stalls were torched in different areas.
Meanwhile, the JAP and the Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) have announced that a day of mourning will be observed today (Tuesday). JAP chief Allama Abbas Komaili and MWM central leader Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi have demanded that the government take stern action against the Rangers personnel, who fired on the protesters.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2010.
At least two people were killed and five others injured in firing near the Post Office Square in Liaquatabad on Monday when members of the Shia community were protesting against the target killings of their fellow sect members in Karachi.
The details of the incident remain unclear as the Jaffaria Alliance Pakistan (JAP) says that Pakistan Rangers personnel opened fire on the Shia protesters without any reason. “The Rangers opened indiscriminate fire on them without any prior notice,” said JAP spokesman Ali Ahmer.
“At least two members of the Shia sect were killed and five injured according to the information we have received,” Ahmer told The Express Tribune.
Eyewitnesses say the incident took place after the Shia protesters were returning from the funeral of a sect member, who was killed on Sunday night.
They were chanting slogans against the government for its failure to curb target killings in the city.
The Pakistan Rangers issued a handout, according to which some people, who were passing near Post Office Square in Liaquatabad, suddenly opened fire at the police and Rangers, who retaliated in self-defence.
The bodies and the injured were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. “Three bodies and five injured have been brought to the hospital so far,” said Dr Shiraz, the MLO at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
Two of the deceased have been identified as Shahzaib Abbas, son of Irshad Hussain and Nasir Ali, son of Wahed Ali. The identity of the third person could not be ascertained yet and it was not confirmed if he died in the same incident.
“Two of the injured men are in a critical condition,” the MLO added.
Soon after the incident occurred, riots erupted in different areas of the city including Malir, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Liaquatabad, Golimar, Rizvia and Abul Ispahani Road and a number of shops and vehicles were set ablaze.
According to the police, five vehicles, most of them passenger buses, and 20 roadside stalls were torched in different areas.
Meanwhile, the JAP and the Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) have announced that a day of mourning will be observed today (Tuesday). JAP chief Allama Abbas Komaili and MWM central leader Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi have demanded that the government take stern action against the Rangers personnel, who fired on the protesters.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2010.