Political and sectarian convulsions ripped through the city on Monday as four people, including three supporters of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and a member of the Shia community, were gunned down. Sectarian tensions have flared since January 24, when unidentified assailants shot dead two activists of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat – a reorganised version of banned militant outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba. The next day, three lawyers belonging to the Shia sect were gunned down, while a Shia doctor was targeted by gunmen on January 28. On Monday afternoon, two unidentified attackers riding a motorcycle opened fire at Taseer Abbas, 35, as he was leaving his house, killing him on the spot.
Following the murder of the fifth Shia community member inside a span of six days, an angry mob set alight a passenger bus and pushcarts near the Sohrab Goth Flyover and also torched the booking office of an inter-provincial bus service company at Al-Asif Square. The funeral prayer of the deceased was offered in Ancholi that was attended by hundreds of people.
Unidentified miscreants resorted to aerial firing in Ancholi, Sohrab Goth, Samanabad, Abbas Town and Gulberg, forcing the shopkeepers to close down business activities.
Angered by the non-stop killing of Shia community members, hundreds of people took to the streets and blocked the Shahrah-e-Pakistan, disrupting the flow of vehicular traffic. A passenger bus of route W-11 was also set on fire near the Sohrab Goth Flyover. Demanding the government to arrest the killers behind the recent sectarian killings, the protesters chanted slogans against the law enforcement agencies for failing to protect the lives of innocent citizens. Later, a huge contingent of law enforcers arrived in the troubles areas and brought the situation under control. Police resorted to aerial firing and teargas to disperse the protesters and open the main road for traffic.
The Samanabad SHO said Abbas, son of Shakir Abbas Zaidi, had left his residence in Block 20, Federal B Area when two motorcyclists sprayed him with bullets and fled the scene. He was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) where the doctors pronounced him dead on arrival. “The deceased was an employee of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) and the brother of renowned Noha Khawan Syed Raza Abbas Zaidi,” he added. The medico-legal officer (MLO) at ASH told Pakistan Today that Abbas suffered three bullets to his head and chest which proved fatal.
Meanwhile, late on Monday night, unidentified armed men on motorcycles sprayed a jeep with bullets near the powerhouse in Sector 5-C, North Karachi, killing three MQM supporters inside. The killings sparked violence in sectors 9, 10, 11/C-3, 11/B, 5C/4, 5C/3 of North Karachi where unidentified miscreants resorted to firing and forcibly closed down shops and markets. Bilal Colony SHO Ilyas Shah said the three young men were sitting inside the four-wheeler when four gunmen on two motorcycles opened fire at the vehicle, critically injuring the three passengers. The injured men were shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital but succumbed to their wounds on the way.
“The men identified as Irfan, Adnan and Adil are all between the ages of 20 and 22,” the SHO said. Talking with told Pakistan Today, North Karachi Superintendent of Police Chaudhry Asad said the three men were associated with a political party. A large contingent of police and Rangers has been deployed in parts of North Karachi to handle the situation.
When approached for comments, MQM Rabita Committee member Wasay Jalil clarified that the victims were the supporters of MQM but they not party activists.
As an Indian i really feel bad for what is going in pakistan at the movement . why shia's has been always targeted to death .even i am a muslim but and we have a big majority of shia's in india . but we never even bother to interfier with them neither target them. pakistan is sold to extremist mulla's who are most violent people in the country who support terrorism shame on such mulla's and the people who follow them . b4 its too late try to vote for a right candidate who can serve the people develop oppurtinities for the youngsters .
Its time that this issue be resolved once and for all
Former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Syed Sajjad Ali Shah had the 'thing' in him to bring this issue to the table…..What happened then in the proceedings is clear from what Sajjad Ali Shah had to say in his auto-biography…….
Its time that Shias of Pakistan accept the status similar to what sunnis are being treated in Iran…..Shias should practice what they preach….
Which law allows a group to burn the property of others on the name reaction, its totally a joke.
Burning others property is also a unlawful act like killing. Shiites (Shia) are not only innocents, leaders of other parties are also being killed.
In my opinion there may be third party involved in these killings.
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