On the brink: MWM’s prayer leader and his guard shot dead

Three members of the Tableeghi Jamaat were also gunned down outside Madni Masjid.

KARACHI:

A leader of the Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) along with his driver was shot dead in a targeted attack in Gulshan-e-Iqbal on Tuesday evening.

MWM’s deputy secretary-general, Allama Deedar Ali Jalbani, was on his way to the MWM office in Ancholi Society when armed men intercepted his black coloured Honda City near NED University, within the limits of Mobina Town police station, and opened fire. Allama Jalbani and his driver, who was also the leader’s security guard, were shot multiple times and died at the spot. Their bodies were taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for autopsy and later shifted to Ancholi Society.



Following the target killing, commercial activities in various parts of the city - particularly Shia-dominated neighbourhoods - such as Ancholi Society, Rizvia Society, Ayub Goth, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Jaffer Tayar Society in Malir, MA Jinnah Road and Abbas Town, came to a halt as unidentified armed men opened fire in reaction to the killings.

Protests were also held against the attack and extra contingents of law enforcers took position in the affected areas to avoid any untoward incident. While the law and order situation remained under control, a massive traffic jam due to the protests and tension disturbed commuters in the city.  Allama Jalbani contested from PS-126 on MWM’s seat. He was also the prayer leader at the Jama Masjid Hussaini near his residence in Ayub Goth. He leaves behind two children and a widow.

Strong reactions

The MWM has announced three days of mourning across the country and will hold a protest day today [Wednesday] to condemn the assassination of Allama Jalbani and his guard. “The murder of MWM Karachi’s deputy secretary-general is an irreparable loss for the peaceful and law abiding Pakistanis,” MWM secretary-general, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri, told The Express Tribune. He said that Allama Jalbani was a great person, an Islamic scholar and a humanitarian who preached unity of Muslims and the service of humanity.

He also gave an ultimatum to the government to arrest the culprits within 24 hours, saying that otherwise the party would come up with their own strategy to ensure that the officials takes action.

According to SHO Jamal Leghari, at least six armed men on three motorcycles attacked the leader. “The target killers did their homework prior to the attack and targeted Allama Jalbani after following him from his house,” he said, adding that 9mm pistols were used in the attack. Empty shells were also collected from the site, said SHO Leghari. Allama Jalbani’s funeral will be held outside the Sindh Chief Minister House.

Targeted killings continue 

Four more people, including three members of the Tableeghi Jamaat, were gunned down in the city on Tuesday. Armed men on three motorcycles opened fire on members of the Tableeghi Jamaat as they walked out of the Madni Masjid after giving a dars [lecture]. Two people were also injured in the attack. SP Mohammad Akhtar told The Express Tribune that two deceased, 60-year-old Maulana Abdul Majeed and 50-year-old Omer Khittab, were dual nationals of Pakistan and Morocco. The third deceased and the injured men were Pakistani.

Separately, a scout of the Payam-e-Wilayat, Syed Zakir Hussain, was shot dead near Singer Chowrangi. The deceased used to work at a garment factory and was killed by armed motorcyclists.

The body of another factory worker, Amjad Khan, was found from an empty plot in Saeedabad. Police said that the deceased was tortured to death after being kidnapped.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2013.

Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Madni Masjid is in North Nazimabad. We regret the error.