Under attack: Slain MQM workers laid to rest

Unidentified men used 9mm pistols in the targeted attacks

KARACHI: The three members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) who were targeted on Tuesday were buried a day later.

The three men, affiliated with the MQM, were shot dead in two separate incidents. Ashraf alias Guddu and Abdul Rehman were targeted late on Tuesday night in Gulbahar within the limits of the Rizvia police. Earlier on Tuesday evening, MQM Balochistan committee joint in-charge Ashraf Khan was shot dead in Fareed Colony, Orangi Town.

In both the incidents, unidentified motorcyclists used 9mm pistols. All except one of the assailants managed to escape even though one victim, Ashraf Khan, reportedly fired back at the attackers. Nonetheless, the police have yet to trace the culprits.

The two MQM workers killed in Gulbahar were buried at the Khajji Ground Graveyard, Rizvia. Their funeral prayers were offered in Gulbahar in which family members, relatives, neighbours and a large number of MQM workers and supporters participated. MQM leaders Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Amir Khan were also present on the occasion. Strict security measures were ensured by the law enforcement agencies while routine and commercial activities were also partially suspended in the areas during the funeral services.

Earlier, Ashraf Khan was laid to rest in a graveyard in Orangi Town after his funeral prayers were offered at Fareed Masjid in the area late Tuesday night. A murder case was registered at the Mominabad police station on the complaint of his brother, Asif Khan, against unidentified persons. An FIR has yet to be registered over the killings of the other two party workers.

Police officials believe that militants belonging to banned outfits are behind the killings of the MQM workers. “Of course, the banned militant outfits are targeting MQM men in Karachi and we are trying to arrest them,” said Mominabad SHO Shahzad Ilyas.

According to MQM, over one dozen of their workers and supporters have so far been killed in the city in the first two weeks of January alone. “Members of militant outfits and plainclothes personnel are behind our men’s killings in Karachi,” claimed MQM leader Wasay Jalil, while talking to The Express Tribune. “We are currently engaged in discussions on our future course of plan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2015.