School principal killed, six students injured during annual function

A principal of a private primary school located in Ittehad Town, Baldia, was shot dead and six students including two minor girls sustained bullet wounds when unidentified gunmen fired at the school following a hand grenade attack on Saturday.
Per details, an annual function was underway at the school when a group of armed assailants fired at the principal after hurling a hand grenade. The school was rocked with gunfire where students were being awarded prizes.
“A few motorcyclists arrived in the town and later sprayed bullets on principal Abdul Rasheed,” Deputy Inspector General (DIG) West Zaffar Abbas Bukhari told Pakistan Today. They hurled a hand grenade inside the school and later resorted to firing, targeting Rasheed,” he added.
“At least six students including two minor girls also sustained injuries during the attack and were later shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC),” the DIG said.
“Apparently, the target was the principal of The Nation School,” he said. “Rasheed was also a locally active leader of Awami National Party (ANP) in the town,” he added. Investigations are underway and it would be premature to conclude on reasons behind the attack, he said.
A stampede was reported in the school following the grenade explosion and firing. Parents and students took shelter in classrooms during the attack. Eventually, police reached the venue and cordoned off the area.
“Terrorists had been threatening Abdul Rasheed and had asked him to suspend political activities in the town,” an ANP spokesman said. “Rasheed had informed law enforcement agencies about these life threats but no action was taken,” he added. “Rasheed proposed the name of Saifullah Afridi for ANP candidate from PS-90,” he said. He appealed to Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take action against the killing of Rasheed. He also demanded the Karachi corps commander, the Rangers DG and the Sindh IG to take notice of the killing.
Meanwhile, according to police and rescue sources, three persons were killed in firing incidents that took place in Al-Asif Square and Aath Chowk in Lyari.
Rangers conducted a search operation in Lyari and arrested two suspects in an injured condition after an exchange of fire. A Rangers official was also injured in the firing.
Rangers had raided the area after receiving information on criminals involved in a trader’s murder in Empress Market. When the culprits saw law enforcers moving in on them, they resorted to firing, injuring one official. The residents of the area blocked the main road and staged a protest against Rangers’ raids and operations. They were of the view that Rangers arrested innocent people and did not detain real terrorists and criminals.