Several parts of Karachi were tense on Wednesday In the wake of yesterday’s sectarian violence which claimed at least 15 lives.
Moreover, funeral prayers for late Shia leader Allama Deedar Ali Jalbani and his guard were held at Numaish Chowrangi in Karachi on Wednesday.
Jalbani’s body has been shifted to Khairpur via helicopter for burial.
Private schools in the city remained shut and public transport was thin due to security fears following a protest call given by Shias’ representative organisation, Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), of which Jalbani was the deputy secretary general.
Three main universities Karachi University, Federal Urdu University and NED university postponed examinations scheduled for Wednesday in view of the prevailing situation.
Meanwhile, around 1,200 Shias rallied in the city to protest against the killing of Jalbani in a sectarian attack. They also shouted slogans against the killing and demanded the government to arrest Jalbani’s killers.
The city’s main artery, MA Jinnah Road, which links different busy districts and shopping areas, was shut for hours due to the Shias’ protest.
“We closed the road and stopped movement of traffic in the surrounding areas also to avoid any untoward incident,” senior police official Pir Muhammad Shah said.
Earlier on Dec 3, two foreigners were among 15 people killed in Karachi as violence reared its ugly head after a lull. Officials believed the spiral was a calculated move against the ongoing Rangers-led operation in the metropolis.
Jalbani and his guard were killed while in the evening three members of the Tableeghi Jamaat, including two Moroccans, were shot dead.
Among others who died during the day were four men who were travelling in a vehicle and came under attack by armed pillion riders and car-riders in North Nazimabad. One of the dead men, Mushtaq Mohmand, had contested the last general election on a provincial assembly seat in Manghopir and was involved in the water hydrant business, said SSP Central Amir Farooqi.
An employee of the Port Qasim Authority, who was also supervisor of ‘Payam Scouts’, was gunned down in a suspected sectarian attack.
Late on Tuesday night, four suspected gangsters were shot dead in two alleged encounters with police and Rangers in Lyari, said SSP City Faisal Bashir Memon.