Targeted attack: KDA School's vice-principal laid to rest, police continue investigation

Family says victim had not received any threats of personal enmity or extortion.

KARACHI: The vice-principal of the KDA School, Professor Syed Azhar Zaidi, who was shot dead late Thursday night, was laid to rest on Friday.

Prof Zaidi and his wife were returning home after attending Dua-e-Kumail at the IRC Imambargah at Ayesha Manzil when two armed men on a motorcycle opened fire at their car. He was shot at least four times in his chest and died at the spot. His wife, Shabana Bibi, was also injured in the attack and taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. She is still undergoing treatment but her condition is said to be stable.



The deceased lived in Ancholi Society and is survived by a widow and three children. His funeral prayers were offered at the imambargah in Ancholi Society after which he was laid to rest at the Wadi-e-Hussain graveyard. His father-in-law, Ansar Zaidi is a well-known marsia khuwan.

"Soon after the Rangers mobiles left the IRC, Zaidi was targeted within the one-minute drive from the imambargah," the victim's cousin, also his brother-in-law, Mudassir told The Express Tribune. The family said that the deceased had not received any threats, claiming, "It was a 100 per cent targeted killing."

Though the police have not come across any breakthrough in the investigation, they ruled out the possibility of extortion, personal enmity and attempted robbery. "Based on our initial investigation, we believe that he was targeted on sectarian basis," said SHO Chaudhry Shahid while talking to The Express Tribune. The officer said that empty shells of the pistols used in the killing have been collected and further investigations have also been initiated. No case was registered till the filing of this report as the police was waiting for the complainant.



"Targeting of educationists, among other people, has been continuing unabated for the last several years while the government and law enforcement agencies appear completely helpless in resolving the root cause of the matter," said Sharfuz Zaman, chairperson of the Private Schools Management Association. "These educationists spend their lives in serving the community, regardless of ethnic and sectarian differences, and their killings are an immense loss to the country."

Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) also condemned the incident and demanded law enforcers to arrest the culprits. "Pakistan is gradually becoming a no-go area for us," said MWM central leader, Allama Ejaz. "On one hand, our people are being targeted on sectarian basis and on the other hand, law enforcers are arresting them. The law enforcers should reveal which neighbouring country is supporting criminals in Pakistan to target and kill our people."

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2014.