Lawyer Kausar Saqlain was driving his sons to school, when unidentified assailants on a bike attacked his car. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
Men, on a motorbike, gunned down lawyer Kausar Saqlain and his sons Owais Abbas and Mohammad Abbas as he took them to school.
The sons died on the spot, while Saqlain sustained severe injuries and was shifted to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.
Saqlain belonged to the Shia community and SP Lyari Najam Tareen said this was an incident of sectarian killing.
Karachi police chief Iqbal Mahmood said "apparently it seems a sectarian killing," though he added the case was still under investigation.
Police said they have collected evidence and criminals will soon be arrested.
Lawyers boycotted proceedings of the SHC on Tuesday to mourn and condemn the death of Saqlain and his two sons.
"We strongly condemn the killings of our colleague and his two sons and we called off activities at the court," said Mustafa Lakhan, president of the Sindh High Court Bar Association.
COMMENTS (42)
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@Usman: The LeJ has claimed responsibility. What do you say now?
guys if you believe police version then remember what their ex superior (Rehman Malik) once said "only 10% people die of terrorism, rest get killed by their wives / gf's"
Our courts and specially our "suo moto" loving CJ keep on releasing however many terrorist and target killers actually do get arrested. These killers cannot be negotiated or reasoned with. The only way to deal with them is through the barrel of a gun.
Condemnable and unjustified but are the sectarian killings, in anyway, even distantly related to the targeted killings of Ulema in Karachi?
Pakistan is a battle ground for proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. So far only one side is very active in killing because of their very heavy financial and political influence in Pakistan. With Nawaz Sharif in power and Saudi money, this situation will only become worse.
May Allah grant some wisdom to our rulers and Pakistani public where they put the interest of Pakistan first.
in another news another Shia was killed. Syed Arshad Abbas Naqvi aka Haider Ali, 25 was a young banker and was on his way to his work.
There was a little lull in the Shia killings but it seemed too good to be true. Should we prepare for the killing season to resume? I want to vent out my frustration but there is no use here.
The Government should form a judicial commission to investigate the cause of sectarian killings.
@Anjum Arshi: Because Lashkar-e-Jhangvi just claimed responsibility for it. Why is it when a shia is killed and it is reported as sectarian violence, people get upset?
Cold blooded Child Killers are unforgivable whether they be bigot, bandit or barbarian. We should help our Police catch murderers of innocents and enable our to courts exterminate them.
My heart breaks when I hear such news. I thank God that I do not live in such a lawless country. Imagine grieving mother who lost two sons and husband :( My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Lets see how many complaints go to Scotland Yard for this murder?
The most unsafe place for Muslims is Pakistan.
If your policy supporting ignorant and stone age people then the result will be like that.
The fact of the matter is that my fellow Pakistanis have become immune to killings, robberies, etc. as long as they are not happening to them. There are sick minded individuals who target Shias who are well educated and excel in what they do. Recently, a well renowned doctor and professor from Lahore was killed with his young child. How come there is no public outcry at this?
when police declare it a sectarian killing this mean his duty is finish,this is the best way to remain devoid of his duty.Later,if some one has been caught and canvassed court will acquaint him honorably.
@Ayesha: A Nuclear power without electricity.
Saudi grant showing its after effects.
Just imagine what the family must be going through right now. How will they live now? This is the country we belong to. Some just like to kill the Shias and others wonder why should it be a sectarian killing, even though it happens so freakin often.
@Umair &@Anjum Arshi When some one was killed alongwith his two small kids its a sectarian killing not a bhatta affair.Pl open your eyes otherwise these brutals will be on your doorstep one day in the name of religion and sect.
@Umair: it has been very very evident lately,everyone knows..from which world out of u r saying it cant be sectarian??..ppl are being killed randomly thts true but not as randomly when u sort out innocent civilians/army personnel with their ID cards??..
@Pakistani: @seriously?:
I am not denying the fact that shias are being targeted, but my point is how simple is for police man to ease himself by tagging this incident as sectarian killing in a moment, this simply concludes that the deceased would never get proper investigation for his murder.
Its simply closed in other words!
@Naveed: Killers do not believe in the judgement day.. Now what ? declare the killers as non Muslim. Thereafter what ? Helpless !!!
Do you know we are a nuclear power ? our defence is rock n solid ! but who cares about civilians !
Maybe it's not sectarian violence; sounds more like Bhatta affair to me. Why is it every time a Shia is killed it's sectarian violence but not so when a Sunni is killed? The extortionists and mafia members never discriminate along these lines.
@Usman: Please learn to read sir. The SP said it was a sectarian killing, not ET.
@Usman When someone is killed along with his kids, its a sectarian thing; just like Dr. Haider Ali and his son were killed in lahore not many months ago.
@Usman: This is not exaggeration my dear. Open your eyes and mind before they bangs on your doorsteps.
and the milkman gunned down yesterday was sunni???
Iraqi goverment recently cancelled 10 media licenses for invoking sectarian rift through news headlines.
our media houses are equally incompetent as the SP sahab leading investigation of this crime.
i condemn the killings but ET, WoW!! you exaggerated it pathetically ... how can you be so sure it was sectarian violence?
@Umair - This is not the first incident of this kind to prove its sectarian brutality. Numbers of well established Shia people have been martyrered in recent past just because they belong to one sect which has nothing to do with other sects. I know Shia people in my circle who were also targetted just because they were Shia. One of them was martyred same way when he was taking his son to school early in the morning.
The court proceeding in Sindh High Court were suspended This killing of professionals has to stop
Tragic to an extreme. RIP and deeply felt condolences to the family of Kauser Saqlain, terrible for his wife to have lost her husband, sons, for his parents and all their loved ones. Yet another reason not to negotiate with killers - they should be brought to justice for such cold blooded senseless killings. About time the Government of Pakistan declare all religions, sects should live in harmony and not favour some above others.
@ Umair were his sons also in lawyer's profession???you cannot deny the truth bro!!!
I completely condemn this barbaric act in which they dont spare the children... think of a mother whose both sons are dead and whose husband have left her forever.... they were followers of Ahlul Bayt thats why they were killed..... what a shame..... being a muslim that affirms my faith on the day of judgement... when everyone have to pass through supreme justice.... when nobody will be get away.... when nobody will be helpless... when nobody will ask for proof.... inshAllah then the killers of these 2 kids will get their due punishment.
Shia Genocide continues in this country.
v sad news, they were killed jus beacuse they belong to shia community. its the result of our govt's policies. for God sake open your eyes n take serious action. it means militants are stronger than govt.
Three more lives lost because of Judicial patrobage of criminals
Three more lives lost because of police inefficiency and government apathy.
The serial killing of advocates is massage from terrorists in the city that the write of law & order is at their mercy
Can somebody please tell me what is the crime of these two little children? Drawing an analogy, their lives were snuffed out just like the KESC resorts to load shedding.
If there is sectarian trouble in the Middle East, why must it permeate into our daily lives? The answer is simple, LACK OF EDUCATION. Salams
What a sad state of affairs. What an absolute failure of state policy, to have built weapons, spend trillions on security and this is what the end game. How do the 200 Generals justify the jobs they have?
On what grounds/ evidences Mr. SP has categorized it a sectarian killing_ Lawyers' profession is dangerous too.