13 more dead as target killings continue | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

13 more dead as target killings continue

By: Salis bin Perwaiz

Karachi: There was no let-up in the current spate of target killings in Karachi, as 13 more people, including political activists and a policeman, were murdered on Wednesday, bringing the total number of people killed this month to 123.

Mohammad Arsalan alias Khan Bhai, a former Sunni Tehreek activist wanted by police in target killing cases including the murder of Rangers personnel in Garden, was gunned down at Gali 26-27 of D-Area, Khokhrapar.

Sub-Divisional Police Officer Imdad Ali Solangi of the Khokhrapar Division said the victim was passing through a street in the morning when two men on a motorcycle opened fire on him.

The victim was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), where he breathed his last. The deceased suffered bullet wounds on his head.

The police officer said empty bullet casings of 9mm pistol were found at the crime scene. The deceased was a resident of Nazeer Town, Khokhrapar.

Garment trader murdered

A garment trader was attacked at Gol Market, Nazimabad. Sub-Divisional Police Officer Shahid Abbas of the Nazimabad Division said two men on a motorcycle shot 55-year-old Yawar Mehdi at the market in the morning.

The victim was shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH), where he succumbed to his injuries.

The deceased suffered four bullet wounds on his upper torso. The police found empty 9mm pistol bullet shells at the murder scene.

The deceased was a resident of Nazimabad No 4.

Following the murder, the Shia Action Committee staged a protest and demanded the immediate arrest of the killers.

Bodies found

The body of a young man was found near the W-22 bus stand in Manghopir. The area’s SHO, Chaudhry Basheer Ahmed said the victim was brutally tortured and his genitals cut off, which became the cause of his death.

The body was shifted to the ASH. A national identity card was found on the body belonging to a man named Waseem. The police went to the address mentioned on the card, where they met a person, who identified himself as Waseem and told them that he had lost his card. He also denied knowing the victim.

The SHO said the deceased was wearing pants, shirt and an earring. There were no missing person reports lodged at any police station that fit the victim’s description. The police were still trying to ascertain the victim’s identity by the time this report was filed.

Another body was found near the railway track near the Malir River in Sharafi Goth.

The area’s SHO, Ijaz Khokhar said the body was shifted to the JPMC and a message about the discovery aired on the police control system.

Afterwards, a family approached the police station and identified the deceased as Saleem Khan, a resident of Usmanabad. The victim had left home on Tuesday night and was kidnapped.

The SHO said the deceased was brutally tortured, which became the cause of his death.

The victim’s family denied that he had any enemies.

Customs official targeted

A Customs official was targeted in the morning next to a bridge near the Sindh Government Hospital in Liaquatabad.

The area’s SHO, Nadeem Khan said 30-year-old Akber Ali was found lying injured next to his motorcycle at the scene. Witnesses told the police that he was hit by a truck.

The police shifted him to the ASH, where doctors told them that the victim had suffered brain injuries and referred him to the JPMC. The victim was later taken to the Aga Khan Hospital, where he expired.

The SHO said the doctors told the police that the victim did not die of an injury sustained in an accident, but had actually suffered a bullet wound on the head. Afterwards, the police located the helmet of the deceased that clearly showed that a bullet had pierced it and struck the victim’s head.

The deceased was a resident of Abbas Square near Ayesha Manzil. He was posted at the Customs House in Keamari.

ST activist killed

A Sunni Tehreek (ST) activist was murdered at a tyre puncture repair shop in Sector-11D, Nullah Stop, New Karachi.

Sub-Divisional Police Officer Chaudhry Akhtar of the New Karachi Division area said Tahir Qadri, the owner of the shop, was busy working when two men on a motorcycle arrived there and shot him. The victim was rushed to the ASH, where he was pronounced dead.

The deceased suffered three bullet wounds on his head. The police found four empty bullet shells of 9mm pistol at the crime scene.

The victim was a resident of Godhra Society, North Karachi. Afterwards, some men in the area fired gunshots in the air and forcibly shut down shops.

Later, ST leaders and activists staged a protest and demanded the arrest of the killers.

MQM activist slain

A Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activist, also the owner of a sweet mart, was gunned down at his shop located in Mominabad Market, Pakistan Bazaar in the evening. Two others were also injured in the attack.

Sub-Divisional Police Officer Waheed Khan of the Pakistan Bazaar Division said two men on a motorcycle arrived at the shop and opened fire, killing 28-year-old Kashif, its owner, and two others, Khurram and Tauseef.

The police officer said the three men were taken to the ASH, where Kashif succumbed to his injuries while Khurram and Tauseef managed to survive.

The deceased suffered multiple bullet wounds. The police found empty bullet shells of Kalashnikov at the crime scene. The police officer added that Khurram and Tauseef were the owners of another sweet mart, Nadeem Sweets, located next to Kashif’s shop.

The deceased was a resident of the same area where he was attacked.

Police constable shot dead

A police constable was killed and another injured at Marble Wali Road, near Bismillah Hotel, Pak Colony.

SSP Amir Farooqi of the West Range said police constables Sohail and Safdar, assigned intelligence duty at the Pak Colony police station, were on their way on a motorcycle in the evening when two men on a motorcycle opened fire on them.

The two policemen were taken to the ASH, where Sohail expired while Safdar was in a stable condition.

The deceased suffered multiple bullet wounds.

The SSP said the police found empty 9mm pistol bullet shells at the scene of the attack.

He added that the murdered police constable was receiving death threats from a group. “The same group might be responsible for the constable’s murder.”The deceased was a resident of Metroville, SITE.

PAC supporter gunned down

A rickshaw driver, also a People’s Aman Committee (PAC) supporter, was gunned down near Baloch Masjid, Teen Hatti.

The duty officer at the Super Market police station, Younus said Inayat Baloch was passing through a street in the evening when two men on a motorcycle shot him.

The victim was taken to the ASH, where he was pronounced dead.

The deceased suffered two bullets wounds on his chest. The police found empty bullet shells of 9mm pistol at the murder scene. The deceased was a resident of Ilyas Goth.

Labourer murdered

A labourer was killed at Jehangir Road, Niazi Mohallah late at night.

Saeedabad SHO Chaudhry Irshad said 50-year-old Fazalur Rehman was shot by two men on a motorcycle. He was moved to the Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), where he succumbed to his injuries.

The deceased suffered multiple bullet wounds. He was a resident of the same area where he was attacked.

KRC supporter killed

In another late night attack, a supporter of Katchi Rabita Committee (KRC) was targeted in D-1 Area of Khokhrapar.

The area’s sub-divisional police officer, Imdad Solangi said Abdul Qadir was present outside his house when two men on a motorcycle gunned him down.

The victim was shifted to the JPMC, where he was pronounced dead.

The deceased suffered three bullet wounds on his upper torso. Empty bullet casings of 9mm pistol were found at the murder scene.

Rangers’ van attacked

A man was killed and five others injured in a late-night bomb attack on a Rangers’ vehicle near Star CNG Station, KBR Society, Buffer Zone.

DIG Mohammed Akram Naeem Baroka of the West Range said Rangers personnel were on routine patrol in their van when some men lobbed a home-made bomb at their vehicle.

A motorcyclist, two Rangers personnel Ayaz and Ijaz and a rickshaw driver and his three passengers, including a woman, were injured in the attack and shifted to the ASH, the CHK and private hospitals. The motorcyclist succumbed to his injuries. His identity could not be ascertained by the time this report was filed.

The DIG said the bomb was a home-made type that carried a large quantity of splinters and ball-bearings.

The DIG believed that the assailants were targeting Rangers personnel.

It is pertinent to mention here that an improvised explosive device was found abandoned near the paramilitary force’s headquarters at the Super Highway on Monday. A day before that, four Rangers personnel were injured in a bomb attack on their van in Quaidabad.

7 hurt in low-intensity blast

Seven people were injured in a low-intensity blast at a cement shop in Block-16, Federal B Area.

The sub-divisional police officer of the area, Saleem Akhtar Siddiqi said some men lobbed a home-made bomb inside the shop. The owner of the shop, Adil, and his employees and customers, Nabil, Munir, Aqeel, Shahbaz, Ataullah and Majeed, were wounded in the attack and taken to the ASH.

Investigators said Adil was receiving threats from a group of extortionists after he had refused to pay them. They believed that the same group was responsible for the attack.

The News