Target killings: 1 MQM, 2 ANP men killed

Police have yet to confirm political affiliations of three other victims.

KARACHI: At least six men, three of whom were affiliated to political parties, lost their lives in target killings across the city on Monday.

Two of the victims, who were killed within the jurisdiction of al Falah police station, belonged to the Awami National Party (ANP). ANP al Falah ward president was sitting at his shop in Pathan Goth along with his friends when at least four men, on two motorcycles, opened fire at them.

As a result, 32-year-old Aziz Sahir Khan, his assistant, 35-year-old Tariq, son of Faiz Muhammad and his friend Muhammad Arif, sustained bullet wounds and were taken to Jinnah hospital. Aziz and Tariq were dead when they arrived while Arif was admitted for treatment, said a doctor.

The bodies were later handed over to the families, who have yet to register a case. ANP spokesperson Qadir Khan condemned the incident and demanded the government and law enforcement agencies stop target killings of its party workers and supporters.

In another incident, a joint sector incharge of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was killed near Inquiry Office, within the jurisdiction of Nazimabad police station.

The deceased, 35-year-old Syed Adil Akhtar Jaffery, son of Ali Akhtar, was passing by the Inquiry Office on his motorcycle when unidentified men shot him. Adil sustained three bullet wounds and later succumbed to his injuries at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

The deceased was a resident of Khamosh Colony and was associated with the MQM Gulbahar Nazimabad Sector.

SHO Inspector Sohail said that a TT pistol was used in the assassination. The killing caused panic in the neighbourhood and all shops and businesses closed down as a result. A heavy contingent of law enforcers was deployed in the area to avoid any untoward situation, he said.

A large number of MQM officials and workers also arrived at the hospital and condemned the incident. However, the police have yet to file the case.

A 25-year-old man, Ehsan, son of Amin was shot dead inside bus (PE-2595) on route X-21 on Shaheed-e-Millat Road. The deceased was a resident of Landhi’s Sherpao Colony. Ferozabad police said they have yet to confirm if Ehsan was affiliated with any political party.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Sohail, son of Afzal, was gunned down within the jurisdiction of Korangi police station. Police officials said that unidentified motorcyclists opened fire at Sohail as soon as he reached his shop as per routine. The shop is located in Korangi No. 4. The victim was taken to Jinnah hospital where he died. The police were unable to ascertain the motive behind the killing as no political party claimed affiliation with the deceased.

Separately, armed men intercepted a rickshaw and opened fire at the four passengers within the jurisdiction of Aziz Bhatti police station. The passengers, Faraz Ahmed, Salman, Omar Imam and Bilal sustained injuries and were taken to Jinnah hospital where Faraz died. Doctors said the remaining victims are in critical condition.

Target killings aftermath

Cases of violence were reported following the killings. A rickshaw and a passenger bus of route 2-K were set on fire in Nazimabad. According to the fire department, a vehicle was also torched near Suparco road.

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik ordered Sindh IGP and Rangers director-general to form a joint investigation. He also ordered CCPO Karachi Fayyaz Laghari to submit an initial inquiry report within three days.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2011.