Targeted killings: Two MQM workers shot dead as they walk out of mosque
Protesters complain no security measures taken for Friday prayers.
Police officials stand outside the mosque where two MQM workers were shot dead on Friday afternoon. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
A day after the killing of a prominent Shia scholar, Allama Syed Taqi Hadi Naqvi, two senior workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement were shot dead in an act of targeted killing in broad daylight in Nazimabad on Friday.
There was a female student among the three other killings. The MQM men came under attack soon after they walked out of a mosque after offering Friday prayers at Gol Market. The deceased and injured were immediately moved to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where scores of MQM leaders, workers, supporters and victims' relatives reached and condemned the incident.
The deceased were identified as Khalid Matin, 45, and Hamid Ayub, 55. Ayub was a prominent social worker while Matin was reportedly a relative of the MQM's MPA, Rehan Zafar. SHO Ejaz Lodhi said that four armed assailants were behind this incident. "Two of the culprits offered the prayers along with the victims while two stayed outside the mosque," he told The Express Tribune.
As soon as the victims came out of the mosque, two assailants standing guard outside opened indiscriminate firing at them. As a result, Matin was shot once and Hamid was shot twice while Abdul Aziz- an elderly man who was a beggar- was also wounded in the incident.
Protesters staged a demonstration and criticised the law enforcement agencies. "Though several people were killed yesterday (Thursday) on sectarian basis, no security measures were taken by law enforcers to provide security to the prayers on Friday," claimed the protesters.
A large group of law enforcers reached the site and collected the evidence. .
Despite the presence of law enforcers after the killings, commercial activities were partially suspended around Nazimabad. The deceased were associated with the MQM Unit 183. MQM's Rabita Committee demanded the law enforcers and the government to arrest the culprits behind the killings.
A salesman Manzar Ahmed, 55, working at a sanitary shop was killed while another salesman Imran was wounded in Petal Wali Gali within the limits of Rizvia police station. SHO Hassan Haider said that two men riding a motorcycle were behind the incident, adding that the deceased were apparently killed over sectarian basis.
Son of a prayer leader of Tauheed Masjid, Qasim Sultan, was shot dead inside his house in Pak Colony area. He was killed while he was cleaning his rifle inside the home. A 22-year-old girl Samia was shot dead inside her home in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. DSP Nasir Lodhi said the deceased was a student of Dow Medical College. Her family claimed that the deceased was killed after a stray bullet hit and killed her, however, police sources said that she was killed by her brother in the name of honour.
Meanwhile, parts of the city remained tense on Friday following nine killings on Thursday, including Allama Naqvi in North Nazimabad, religious seminary administrator Ali Hassan and his son Sacchal, two religious seminary teachers in Samanabad and a worker of the Imamia Student Organisation in New Karachi.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2014.
A day after the killing of a prominent Shia scholar, Allama Syed Taqi Hadi Naqvi, two senior workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement were shot dead in an act of targeted killing in broad daylight in Nazimabad on Friday.
There was a female student among the three other killings. The MQM men came under attack soon after they walked out of a mosque after offering Friday prayers at Gol Market. The deceased and injured were immediately moved to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where scores of MQM leaders, workers, supporters and victims' relatives reached and condemned the incident.
The deceased were identified as Khalid Matin, 45, and Hamid Ayub, 55. Ayub was a prominent social worker while Matin was reportedly a relative of the MQM's MPA, Rehan Zafar. SHO Ejaz Lodhi said that four armed assailants were behind this incident. "Two of the culprits offered the prayers along with the victims while two stayed outside the mosque," he told The Express Tribune.
As soon as the victims came out of the mosque, two assailants standing guard outside opened indiscriminate firing at them. As a result, Matin was shot once and Hamid was shot twice while Abdul Aziz- an elderly man who was a beggar- was also wounded in the incident.
Protesters staged a demonstration and criticised the law enforcement agencies. "Though several people were killed yesterday (Thursday) on sectarian basis, no security measures were taken by law enforcers to provide security to the prayers on Friday," claimed the protesters.
A large group of law enforcers reached the site and collected the evidence. .
Despite the presence of law enforcers after the killings, commercial activities were partially suspended around Nazimabad. The deceased were associated with the MQM Unit 183. MQM's Rabita Committee demanded the law enforcers and the government to arrest the culprits behind the killings.
A salesman Manzar Ahmed, 55, working at a sanitary shop was killed while another salesman Imran was wounded in Petal Wali Gali within the limits of Rizvia police station. SHO Hassan Haider said that two men riding a motorcycle were behind the incident, adding that the deceased were apparently killed over sectarian basis.
Son of a prayer leader of Tauheed Masjid, Qasim Sultan, was shot dead inside his house in Pak Colony area. He was killed while he was cleaning his rifle inside the home. A 22-year-old girl Samia was shot dead inside her home in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. DSP Nasir Lodhi said the deceased was a student of Dow Medical College. Her family claimed that the deceased was killed after a stray bullet hit and killed her, however, police sources said that she was killed by her brother in the name of honour.
Meanwhile, parts of the city remained tense on Friday following nine killings on Thursday, including Allama Naqvi in North Nazimabad, religious seminary administrator Ali Hassan and his son Sacchal, two religious seminary teachers in Samanabad and a worker of the Imamia Student Organisation in New Karachi.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2014.