Six more people were gunned down and four vehicles torched on Thursday, as routine life in Karachi came to a standstill following the Awami National Party (ANP)’s call for observing a day of mourning after the killing of its Patel Para Ward joint secretary a day earlier. Three people were killed in Orangi Town. Fahadul Samar, 26, was killed in Aligarh Market, an unidentified youth’s body with his hands cuffed was recovered from Farooq Colony, and Zahir Shah, 50, was also gunned down in the same jurisdiction. Moreover, two friends’ bodies were recovered from Khalilabad in North Nazimabad. The Shahrah-e-Noorjahan police said that the victims were identified as Zeeshan Siddiqui, 24, and Jalil Ghulam Hussain, 26. Separately, Sadaqat Shah, 30, was shot dead near Perfume Chowk in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. A truck was set ablaze in Sharafi Goth, a passenger bus in Taimuria and two motorcycles near Jamshed Quarters by unidentified miscreants, blocking all vehicular traffic. All shops and markets across the city remained closed. Some unidentified men resorted to aerial firing in various parts of the city and forcibly closed petrol pumps and CNG stations. Very thin public transport was seen on the roads, as the Karachi Transport Ittehad had announced keeping its vehicles off the roads. A few private vehicles were seen plying the roads, which also stopped in the evening due to shortage of fuel. However, some shops and petrol pumps were reopened in the evening. Public sector educational institutions were opened for routine activities, but academic activities could not take place due to absence of many teachers and students.
FUNERAL: The funeral prayer of ANP Patel Para Ward joint secretary Zainullah was offered at the Lasbela Football Ground amid tight security, and was attended by ANP’s provincial minister Amir Nawab, MPA Amanullah Mehsood and leader Bari Kakar among other party members. A heavy contingent of Rangers and police was deployed in sensitive areas of the city to curb any potential terror bid.
