Pre-poll attacks: ANP candidate and young son shot dead
Six people, including Sadiq Zaman Khattak’s other son, were injured in the attack.
According to witnesses, at least three armed men riding motorcycles opened fire on Khattak, outside Rehmania Masjid.
KARACHI:
Gunmen shot dead an Awami National Party (ANP) candidate and his four-year-old son on Friday afternoon in the eighth recorded incident of pre-poll violence in Karachi.
Sadiq Zaman Khattak, 45, who was contesting a National Assembly seat (NA-254), was shot outside Rehmania Masjid in Bilal Colony of Korangi Industrial Area. His four-year-old son Aimal Sadiq Khattak was also killed in the attack. Six people, including Khattak’s 15-year-old son Shahid Sadiq, were also injured.
According to witnesses, at least three armed men riding motorcycles opened fire on Khattak, outside Rehmania Masjid. As a result, the ANP candidate was shot at least seven times, while his son, Aimal was shot four times.
“They [the victims], after offering Friday prayers, were exiting the mosque when gunmen attacked them,” said an injured ANP worker, Faisal Khan. “The assailants continued firing for at least five minutes,” he added. Both Sadiq and his son died on the spot.
Seething with rage, ANP leaders and workers were seen chanting slogans against their party’s unnamed killers at Jinnah hospital.
According to doctors, the injured party workers are out of danger. Following the attack, extra contingents of law enforcers, including Rangers and police, reached the site but till then the assailants had escaped.
According to police officials, 9mm pistols were used in the attack. They also found empty shells that were sent to the forensic division of Sindh police for further examination.
Inspector General Police in Sindh Shahid Nadeem Baloch has taken notice of the incident and ordered Station House Officer (SHO) Mohammad Ali to arrest the culprits within three days to avoid legal action.
SHO Ali told The Express Tribune that according to the initial investigation, the ANP candidate was the target.
“The Taliban might have been behind the incident,” he said. “However, nothing can be ascertained till the investigation is finalised.”
Day of mourning today
Khattak was associated with the ANP for the past three decades and was its Sindh council member and general secretary of District East.
He was contesting elections from NA-254 for the first time.
Following the attack, ANP has announced a day of mourning in Sindh on Saturday.
ANP Sindh President Senator Shahi Syed, while condemning Khattak and his son’s murder said the incident was a blot on humanity.
“Those who kill a father and his child, after prayers, can’t be grouped together with humans,” Syed said.
President Zardari condemned the attack on Khattak and expressed sympathy with the candidate’s family.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain also condemned the attack on Khattak.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2013.
Gunmen shot dead an Awami National Party (ANP) candidate and his four-year-old son on Friday afternoon in the eighth recorded incident of pre-poll violence in Karachi.
Sadiq Zaman Khattak, 45, who was contesting a National Assembly seat (NA-254), was shot outside Rehmania Masjid in Bilal Colony of Korangi Industrial Area. His four-year-old son Aimal Sadiq Khattak was also killed in the attack. Six people, including Khattak’s 15-year-old son Shahid Sadiq, were also injured.
According to witnesses, at least three armed men riding motorcycles opened fire on Khattak, outside Rehmania Masjid. As a result, the ANP candidate was shot at least seven times, while his son, Aimal was shot four times.
“They [the victims], after offering Friday prayers, were exiting the mosque when gunmen attacked them,” said an injured ANP worker, Faisal Khan. “The assailants continued firing for at least five minutes,” he added. Both Sadiq and his son died on the spot.
Seething with rage, ANP leaders and workers were seen chanting slogans against their party’s unnamed killers at Jinnah hospital.
According to doctors, the injured party workers are out of danger. Following the attack, extra contingents of law enforcers, including Rangers and police, reached the site but till then the assailants had escaped.
According to police officials, 9mm pistols were used in the attack. They also found empty shells that were sent to the forensic division of Sindh police for further examination.
Inspector General Police in Sindh Shahid Nadeem Baloch has taken notice of the incident and ordered Station House Officer (SHO) Mohammad Ali to arrest the culprits within three days to avoid legal action.
SHO Ali told The Express Tribune that according to the initial investigation, the ANP candidate was the target.
“The Taliban might have been behind the incident,” he said. “However, nothing can be ascertained till the investigation is finalised.”
Day of mourning today
Khattak was associated with the ANP for the past three decades and was its Sindh council member and general secretary of District East.
He was contesting elections from NA-254 for the first time.
Following the attack, ANP has announced a day of mourning in Sindh on Saturday.
ANP Sindh President Senator Shahi Syed, while condemning Khattak and his son’s murder said the incident was a blot on humanity.
“Those who kill a father and his child, after prayers, can’t be grouped together with humans,” Syed said.
President Zardari condemned the attack on Khattak and expressed sympathy with the candidate’s family.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain also condemned the attack on Khattak.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2013.