Bodies of six men with their throats slit, recovered near Karachi shrine

Police found a note purportedly from militants who warned visitors from returning to the shrine.

KARACHI: Six men were found with their throats slit at a shrine on the outskirts of Karachi on Tuesday accompanied by a note from militants.

The bodies were found from a mud house adjacent to the Ayub Shah shrine in Gulshan-e-Maymar area with a note claiming to be from the Taliban. The note threatened that mete out similar fate to those visiting the shrine.

Ayub Shah Shrine is located on a 125 feet hill in a deserted area in between Ahsanabad and Surjani. The area falls within the jurisdiction of Gulshan-e-Maymar of District West.

Three of the victims were custodians of the shrine and were identified as Munawar, Saleem and Javed. Two others were identified as Ramzan and Abid and were visitors. A third visitor has yet to be identified. The visitors had stayed on after a five day Urs at the shrine concluded on Sunday.

The victims were aged between 20 to 50 years. They were the residents of Khuda-ki-Basti, Ayub Goth and Lyari.

Police and ambulances from different welfare associations reached the site after the custodian informed them about the tragedy.

The bodies were later shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for autopsy.

The area is notorious for the presence of the Taliban. Police also usually avoid patrols. Many people including policemen have been killed allegedly by militants in the area.

SHO Samad Khan said they had found a sharp-edged dagger from the site, which they believe is the murder weapon. A slip was pulled out from the mouth of one of the victims in which militants claimed responsibility for the gruesome murder and issued a warning for those who regularly visit the shrine.

The walls and the Alm installed at the shrine were also damaged by the culprits.

Police have also detained around half dozen persons including custodian of the shrine for questioning and recording finger prints.

The shrine was later sealed for visitors and police personnel were deployed. However, no case has been registered yet.