Targeted attack: JUI-S secretary shot dead in Karachi

Guard and driver also slain; 3-day mourning announced.

KARACHI:

Secretary of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Samiul Haq (JUI-S), Sindh chapter, Mufti Usman Yar Khan, was shot dead along with his private guard and a driver in a targeted attack near Karachi’s Awami Markaz at Sharah-e-Faisal on Friday.

The incident took place when Mufti Muhammad was returning to his residence in Gulistan-e-Jauhar after attending a seminar in Saddar.

Witnesses confirmed that armed motorcyclists intercepted their car near Awami Markaz and opened fire on them, killing Mufti Muhammad and two others on the spot while injuring another.

The bodies were later moved to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for autopsy.

“All three persons were brought dead to the hospital,” JPMC’s Deputy Executive Director Dr Seemin Jamali told The Express Tribune. “The injured person has been shot multiple times and is currently in a critical condition”.



Mufti Usman Yar Khan’s guard was identified as Muhammad Ali and driver as Mohammad Rafiq. The injured man is identified as Saad Iqbal.

Mufti Usman Yar Khan was also the vice-principal of the Jamia Darul Khair located in Block 15, Gulistan-e-Jauhar while his father is the principal of the seminary.

Bahadurabad SHO Zahid Hussain while quoting the initial investigation said that at least four armed men were behind the attack, adding that the police will also try to get sketches of the culprits made with the help of the witnesses.

He said that the motive behind the incident has yet to be ascertained, as investigations were still under way. He added that the police also recovered at least 20 empty shells of 9mm pistols, which will be sent to the forensic division of the Sindh police.

Mufti Muhammad is survived by nine children. The funeral is expected to take place today (Saturday) in Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

JUI-S chief Maulana Samiul Haq condemned the incident and announced three-day countrywide mourning. “They were returning after attending a seminar about the future of the Karachi operation,” said JUI-S senior leader Mufti Hammadullah Madni. “Of course, the same elements were behind the incident who are not in favour of talks with the Taliban.”

Chief of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Maulana Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi also condemned the incident and demanded that law enforcers arrest the culprits. “These killings are a conspiracy to start sectarian clashes,” he said. “The government and law enforcers should probe the case and arrest the culprits.”

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