Targeted killing: Political leader shot dead in Orangi Town

The ASWJ district West president was on the way to drop his son to school

KARACHI: A local leader of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) was shot dead in an act of targeted killing in Orangi Town on Monday.

Dilshad Mavia was on his way to drop his son to school when the incident took place; however, his son luckily remained unhurt. Witnesses and police officials said that at least four armed men on two motorcycles were behind the incident.

Mavia was a resident of Gulshan-e-Zia in Orangi Town and was on his way to drop his son on a motorcycle when armed motorcyclists targeted and killed him at Islam Chowk. He was shot multiple times and died on the spot. His body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed hospital for an autopsy where doctors said that deceased was shot at least eight times.

An extra contingent of law enforcers also reached the site following the incident and collected evidence. Orangi division SP Ali Asif said that the deceased was shot and killed apparently on sectarian grounds but he could give further details as the investigations were in the preliminary level.

ASWJ officials said that the deceased was the party's president for district West. In addition to this, he was also serving in the party as the Karachi division deputy secretary.

The ASWJ men staged a protest at Islam Chowk for hours against the targeted killing of their party's leaders. The protesters also shouted slogans against the incident and demanded law enforcers arrest the culprits.

The leaders also announced their intention to stage a sit-in outside the Sindh Governor House, however, they postponed the programme. "We postponed it as the Karachi police chief has assured us a meeting with him on Tuesday to resolve the issue or to fulfill our demands," said the ASWJ spokesperson. "We will stage a sit-in outside the Governor House for an indefinite period if our demands are not fulfilled."

The victim was laid to rest at the Gulshan-e-Zia graveyard in Orangi Town. No case has been registered, as the police officials are waiting for the family to do so.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2015.