Shia Ulema Council district president shot, guard injured

Police say Bukhari and Kalu were headed home on a motorcycle when 2 armed motorcyclists opened fire at them in Alipur.

MULTAN:

Muzaffargarh president of the Shia Ulema Council, Syed Altaf Hussain Bukhari, and his security guard were injured when unidentified assailants opened fire at them on Thursday night.

Police said the men were taken to a rural health centre in Seetpur where doctors referred them to Multan. Doctors at Nishtar Hospital, Multan, told The Express Tribune that the condition of Bukhari and his security guard, Haji Kalu, was critical.

Police said Bukhari and Kalu were on their way home on a motorcycle when two armed motorcyclists opened fire at them in Alipur.

Police said a case had been registered on a complaint filed by Kazim, Bukhari’s son.

The attack was followed by a complete shutter down strike by the business and traders community in Seetpur, Khanpur Doma, Sultanpur and Alipur.

Five protests in total were organised by the Shia community against the attack. In Seetpur, the protestors staged a protest demonstration against police and the government for their failure to control rising sectarianism in the region. The protest ended when police assured the protestors that the culprits would be arrested soon and the matter would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2014.