— Unidentified gunmen target two Darul Uloom Korangi cars with gap of 15 minutes, injure two others
KARACHI: Renowned religious scholar Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani survived an assassination attempt in Karachi on Friday as unidentified gunmen riding motorcycles opened fire on two vehicles belonging to Daurl Uloom Korangi, killing two guards and injuring two others.
Karachi Police chief Dr Amir Shaikh told reporters that Mufti Usmani and his wife were in one of the cars targeted by the assailants, adding that the religious scholar remained unhurt in the attack.
According to initial reports, two separate incidents of firing took place in two different parts of the city ─ Gulshan-i-Iqbal and Sharea Faisal. However, police later clarified that both cars were targeted on the Nipa flyover.
Two people were initially reported dead, and two others injured.
Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Director Dr Seemi Jamali said that Sanobar Khan expired en route to the hospital while another person injured in the attack, Maulana Aamir, is currently in critical condition with multiple bullet wounds in the head and chest.
A passerby was also injured in the incident.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and sought a report from the Additional IG Karachi. Shah also ordered the immediate arrest of the suspects.
The IGP Sindh directed senior superintendent police (SSP) East to submit an inquiry report regarding the incident.
Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack, saying that an attack on a leading personality like Mufti Taqi is a serious conspiracy and every effort will be made to expose this.
The prime minister said that provincial governments should ensure foolproof security of religious scholars.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif said the attack on a renowned religious figure and an academic like Mufti Usmani was a “moment of concern”.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the incident and called for bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman said religious scholars were being targeted in the country as part of a “conspiracy”.
Leaders of Wafaqul Madaris Al-Arabia also denounced the assassination attempt on Mufti Taqi Usmani.
Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas also demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
