The city’s life came to a standstill on Tuesday after Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) leader Aurangzeb Farooqui was attacked in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.
Panic gripped the city after unidentified gunmen opened fire compelling shopkeepers to close their businesses. The firing in markets and business centres caused stampede and several people were injured. Petrol pumps and CNG stations were hurriedly closed after the attack. Public transport also vanished from roads as the day gone by.
Six people, including four police officials deployed for security of the ASWJ leader, driver and gunman of Farooqui were killed. Farooqui was also injured in the attack. SSP Asim Qaimkhani said that eight gunmen riding four motorcycles opened fire on Farooqui near Moti Mehal, Gulshan-e-Iqbal.
Talking to Pakistan Today on the phone, Farooqui said the attack was a planned conspiracy to postpone ASWJ long march from Karachi to Islamabad. “Long march will be organised and the workers of ASWJ will foil nefarious plans of enemies by continuing ASWJ mission,” he added. Enraged people torched a bus following the attack. Separately, the ASWJ staged a protest demonstration at Sharae Faisal near Karsaz.
The workers of ASWJ also took to streets in New Karachi, Guru Mandir, Soldier Bazaar, Patel Para, Nagan Chowrangi and Gulshan-e-Iqbal. The protesters pelted cars with stones and bricks and blocked roads. Later, law enforcers showed up and opend roads for traffic.
Addressing an emergent press conference, ASWJ leader Dr Fayyaz announced a wheel-jam strike across the province on Wednesday (today).
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and JUI-Sami backed the strike call.
Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI) Chairman Irshad Bukhari announced that the public transport would remain closed on Wednesday. All Karachi Tajir Ittehad President Atiq Mir said, “The traders neither backed nor rejected the strike call. Traders monitor situation on Wednesday (today) and then decide that weather the trading activities, halted after attack on ASWJ leader, would resume or not,” he added.
Separately, two people were killed and another one was injured near Saddar Parking Plaza. Brigade police SHO said that Rozi Khan, 40, and Naimat Khan, 20, were killed while Atiqur Rehman received bullet wounds. Separately, a police officer’s son was shot dead in Khayaban-e-Bukhari. Darakhshan police SHO said Shahzeb was the son of DSP Aurangzaib.
Meanwhile, a man was killed by unidentified armed men in Kamil Gali. Kharadar SHO Idrees Bangash said the identity of the deceased could not be ascertained so far.
Separately, three people, including a worker of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, were killed in Orangi Town. Iqbal Market SHO Sabir Sohail said Shahid Hussain was gunned down in Raees Amrohi Colony while Nadeem Akhtar was targeted in Chisti Nagar. “Nadeem was a worker of MQM Unit 118,” he added. A teenager, identified as Haider, was killed in Orangi Town.
Meanwhile, a man was killed while another was injured in Azeempura. Shah Faisal Colony SHO said Sheraz was killed while his brother Ayaz was injured in a clash with neighbours.
Separately, a man, identified as Zainul Abdeen, was killed by New Karachi Industrial Area police after he fired at an imambargah. Separately, four bullet-riddled bodies were found from different areas. A body of a teenager was found in Shershah in the Shershah police precincts and another body of 35-year-old man was found from Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 5 in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal police precincts. Napier police also claimed to have recovered a hand-cuffed body of a 25-year-old man. A body of a 26-year-old man was found in Metrovill Graveyard in Pirabad police precincts.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf condemned the attack on Farooqui.
Separately, a 17-year-old teenager was killed by unidentified armed men near Civil Hospital Karachi. Eidgah police said the body was shifted to the hospital, but could not be identified so far.
Separately, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the violence in Karachi is being carried out through a plan and the anti-state elements want to destabilise the country. He was talking to reporters at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam.
