Targeted attack: Former soldier shot dead

The former army personnel was regulating traffic when the incident occured

KARACHI: A former army personnel was shot dead and his companion was critically wounded in an act of target killing on Tuesday.

The two former army personnel, Muhammad Ibrahim and Abdul Qayyum, were regualting traffic near Aqsa Masjid at Dawood Pota Road within the limits of Preedy police station when the incident took place.

Witnesses and police officials said that at least four assailants, riding two motorcycles, were behind the incident. Both these retired army men were recruited in the police department and were posted to the Police Headquarters, Garden, from where they had been dispatched to control traffic in the area.

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"They had no arms," explained Preedy SHO Amjad Kalyar. "They were regulating the traffic as per routine when the assailants targeted them." The officer said that all four assailants were wearing shalwar kameez and prayer caps and fled the scene immediately after the incident.

Both the victims were shot multiple times. Ibrahim died on the spot while Qayyum was admitted to Civil Hospital, Karachi, with critical injuries.

The officer said that the police have also found at least eight empty shells of the murder weapon, adding that the police was also trying to obtain the footage recorded by the closed circuit cameras. Sindh home minister Sohail Siyal also took the notice of the incident and announced Rs2 million as compensation money for the heirs of the victim.

Separately, a young man was shot dead in an act of target killing in Korangi within the limits of Zaman Town police station. Police officials said that the deceased, identified as 30-year-old Saleem Mian, was associated with the fish business, adding that the incident took place when he left home for work.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2015.