KARACHI - At least four people including a KESC official, MQM activist and MQM supporter were gunned down in separate incidents of target killing here on Tuesday.
Syed Ali Imran Jaffrey, 39, KESC deputy general manager, IBC North Nazimabad (Region-IV), was gunned down in an act of target killing.
Law-enforcement agencies said that at least two unidentified armed motrocyclists came and targeted the victim near Saifee College in North Nazimabad within the jurisdiction of Hyderi police post.
Sub-inspector Muhammad Fasihuddin quoted the witness accounts as saying that both the culprits wore helmets, who opened indiscriminate fire at the victim’s white Suzuki Khyber. He had been shot five times and died on the spot. His body was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for autopsy and later handed over to his family.
The officer said that the incident took place at around 8:45am when the deceased was on the way to his office near Hyderi market as per routine from his home in Block-22 FB area, Gulberg Town.
The deceased belonged to Sunni sect, the officer explained, adding that the motive behind the incident has yet to be ascertained. He said that it might have been possible that the culprits killed him mistakenly perceptibly linking him with a Shia sect but there are rare chances of this reasoning. However, the police were also investigating the case from different aspects including personal enmity and any dispute linked with the KESC.
The police, however, have registered the case against unidentified persons on the complaint of victim’s brother Rehan against unidentified persons and initiated further investigation.
Separately, a driver Aman Baloch was killed and a lineman Nasir was injured when unidentified motorcyclists opened indiscriminate fire on the KESC truck (KP-8422) near KESC office in Shamsi Society, Malir. SP Latif Siddiqui said that two armed motorcyclists came and opened fire on the vehicle, adding that according to the eyewitness accounts, an armed man was wearing helmet. Victim Aman was the resident of Ghazi Town Malir. The condition of the injured was out of danger.
Similarly, in Jamshed Quarters police precincts, at least two armed motorcyclists shot and killed an owner of the auto-parts shop inside his shop in Jahangir Road. The victim was identified as Siraj, 55, resident of the same area. DSP Qaiser Ali Shah said that the deceased was affiliated with the MQM and his son is also a party worker, adding that his killing is politically-motivated.
Tension prevailed in the area where routine and commercial activities were partially disturbed.
In another act of target killing, a puncture shopowner also the sympathiser of MQM, namely Aqeel, 32, was killed when unidentified motorcyclists opened fire on him inside his shop situated in Surjani police precincts.
SHO Shabbir Hussain said that the deceased had no affiliation with any organisation but he was the supporter of MQM. The motive behind the incident has yet to be ascertained. He was the resident of sector 11-F, New Karachi. Police registered an FIR No 290/12 against unidentified men on the complaint of victim’s brother Fareed and initiated probe into the case.
Separately, three PPP activists sustained bullet injuries in an armed attack near Chota Maidan within the limits of Nazimabad police station. DSP Shahid Abbas said that the unidentified armed motorcyclists came and opened fire on a car (AEW-812). Resultantly three men namely Imtiaz Khan, 35, Owais, 16, and Khan Afsar, 38, sustained bullet injuries. Police shifted the injured to a private hospital. Officer said that all of them were the PPP workers of district central.
Police recovered several empty shells of 9MM pistol from the scene. Sohail Abidi, president of District Central, strongly condemned the attack of PPP workers. Police officials said that condition of all the injured persons were stable.