Targeted killings: Seven lives lost day before Muharram starts

Police believe four of the seven people were killed over sectarian motives.

KARACHI: A plastic surgeon was among four people of the Shia community shot dead in targeted killings in the city on Monday. Two others were also killed in separate acts of violence bringing the total number to six. 

A plastic surgeon was gunned down near Liberty Chowk, Tariq Road, within the limits of Ferozabad police station. The deceased, identified as Dr Naseem Abbas, was checking his car parked near his apartment when armed men shot him. According to police officials, the deceased was a plastic surgeon by profession and was employed at various hospitals. “He was preparing to leave for Naeem Hospital in Malir from where he was scheduled to visit other hospitals in PECHS, Landhi and other parts of the city,” investigating officer SHO Sohail Sohleri, told The Express Tribune. “The assailants were well aware of his movements.”



A medical technician at the Leprosy Hospital in Manghopir was shot dead in Manghopir’s Garam Chashma area. The deceased, identified as Shair Ali, son of Qalbe Hussain, was on his way to drop his three children to a nearby school when he was targeted. Luckily, the children remained safe. SHO Ghulam Hussain Korai said that the initial investigation suggested that the deceased was killed over sectarian motives.

A tailor, belonging to the Shia community, was gunned down, along with his Sunni friend when armed motorcyclists opened fire at his shop in Zeenat Square in FC Area within the limits of Sharifabad police. Three others were also wounded in the attack. The deceased master tailor was identified as Nadeem Raza and his friend as Shoaib. SHO Saleemullah Qureshi said that Raza had survived a similar attack at his shop around six years ago.

Muhammad Shan, 32, was gunned down near Patel Hospital in Gulshan-e-Iqbal when he was taking the zuljinah [horse] for ziarat. According to Mobina Town SHO Jamal Leghari, the horse also died in the firing.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people of the Shia community staged protests at Ancholi, Sharae Pakistan and in Abbas Town on Abul Hassan Isphani Road. “The frequent targeted killings of innocent Shias before Muharramul Haram are indicative of the bloodshed that is to come,” feared Allama Sadiq Raza Taqvi, the provincial deputy secretary general of the Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen.

A young man, Abdul Rasool Baloch, 22, was found dead from Baldia Town. Mochko police officials said that deceased had been missing for the last two days. A young man, Mansoor, was shot dead near Dabba Morr, Orangi Town.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th,2013.