No respite: Binoria scholar among nine shot dead

Maulana Masood Baig was the son-in-law of Mufti Naeem, the chancellor of Jamia Binoria International.

KARACHI:

In the second high-profile killing of the week, the son-in law of Jamia Binoria International principal Mufti Muhammad Naeem was shot dead by unknown assailants in broad daylight on Wednesday. Three days earlier, the son of Jafaria Alliance Pakistan chief Allama Abbas Kumaili was also shot dead in district Central.

The authorities, who seem perplexed by the surge in violence, have reacted by removing the district’s SSP. Meanwhile, eight others were shot dead in separate acts of violence in the city.

The incident took place near KDA Chowrangi, North Nazimabad, within the limits of Hyderi police station. The victim, 38-year-old Maulana Masood Baig, son of Khursheed Baig, was the administrator of the women’s wing and school section of the Jamia Binoria International.



Maulana Baig had a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Karachi. He was also a visiting faculty member at the Islamic Training Department at the KU. He leaves behind a widow, a son and a daughter.

“Maulana Baig was going to pick up his children from a school near KDA Chowrangi,” his relative, Maulana Ismail, told The Express Tribune. “It was part of his daily routine.”

According to eyewitness accounts, at least four armed motorcyclists intercepted his car and opened fire at him. “The assailants, who had been following him for some time, targeted him when he slowed down to take a U-turn towards the school,” said one witness. “The assailants fired at his car from the left side. They stayed and waited at the spot to confirm that he breathed his last.”

He was shot at least four times with a 9mm pistol and died on the spot. The body was first taken to Ziauddin Hospital and later shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for autopsy. “He was shot twice in the chest and once each in the head and arm,” said a medico-legal officer.

The victim’s father-in-law, who is also chancellor of the Jamia Binoria International, Mufti Muhammad Naeem, strongly criticised the law enforcement agencies over their failure in maintaining law and order in the city. “The complete failure of law enforcement agencies and justice system is sliding the city towards civil war,” he said.

Law enforcement agencies have failed to make any major breakthrough into the sectarian killings or arrest the perpetrators. “No doubt, a conspiracy is being hatched to incite sectarian violence in the city,” said a senior police officer, seeking anonymity. “We have two options - one to launch a crackdown against both the groups or to sort out the issue on the table by involving leaders from both the sides,” he said. “The second option is our priority because if we select the first option, it could aggravate the situation.”

On the other hand, District Central SSP Muqaddas Haider has been removed and asked to report to the Central Police Office (CPO). Korangi division Investigations SSP Noman Siddiqui has been appointed as the District Central SSP while Hyderi SHO Nadeem Tanoli has been suspended and demoted.

Eight others killed

Three people were shot dead in Korangi when assailants opened fire at their milk shop. The deceased were identified as Saleem Siddiqui, his brother Arshad, and Irfan. SHO Ahmed Butt claimed that the incident took place over attempting to resist a robbery bid.

A worker of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, identified as Qasim Raza, was shot dead when armed motorcyclists opened fire at his shop in Sharifabad. Police officials said that he might have been killed over sectarian basis.

Similarly, a member of the Shia community, who was also associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, was shot dead when armed motorcyclists opened fire at his shop at Khuda Ki Basti in Surjani Town.

Iqbal Zainuddin, 45, was shot dead by armed motorcyclists when he was sitting outside his home in Manghopir road in Pak Colony area. A rickshaw driver, Akram alias Jhengu was killed and a passerby, Bilal Raheem was wounded in Gharib Shah, Lyari.

Meanwhile, Arshad, 28, son of Pir Muhammad Lashari, a suspected member of the Arshad Pappu group of Lyari gangsters was shot dead in an act of target killing in Jahanabad, Pak Colony.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2014.