At least eight people, including three activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and one of the Awami National Party (ANP), fell victim to the ongoing spree of targeted killings in the metropolitan on Wednesday.
According to reports, a former union council (UC) nazim, who was affiliated with the MQM, was killed near Millat Garden in Saudabad.
Saudabad station house officer (SHO) said that two motorcycle riders sprayed Khursheed Iqbal, 42, son of Mohsin Iqbal, with bullets.
The SHO said that Khursheed sustained serious bullet wounds and was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. The officer said that the victim was an activist of the MQM and also a former nazim of UC-5.
The killing of MQM UC nazim sparked violence in Malir, where shops and markets were forcibly closed by unidentified men to apparently mourn his death.
Another MQM worker was shot dead near Liaquat Market in Malir. Saudabad SHO said that Zubair Siddiqui, 36, son of Younus Siddiqui, was killed while sitting in his shop, where some unidentified pillion riders opened fire on him.
The SHO said that the victim died on the spot and his body was shifted to the JPMC for post-mortem. The officer said that the victim was a member of the MQM Unit 99.
Similarly, an MQM worker was gunned down in Orangi Town. Pakistan Bazaar SHO said that Malik Hasnain, son of Amanat Ali, was on his way to work when some unidentified men attacked and killed him.
The SHO said that the victim was a former member of the Pakistan People’s Party and had recently joined the MQM.
Separately, an ANP activist was killed in Orangi Town in the Peerabad police precincts. The victim was identified as Sardar Hussain, 40, son of Peer Muhammad.
Police said that the victim’s body was shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) for medico-legal formalities. They said that the victim was an ANP member.
In another incident, two Baloch men were gunned down in Baldia Town. Saeedabad SHO said that around four unidentified motorcyclists opened fire on two passers-by.
The SHO said that both the targeted men died on the spot. The officer said that the bodies were taken for post-mortem to the Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), where they were identified as Hameed Baloch and Saeed Baloch.
The policeman said that the victims were siblings, adding that their affiliation with any party could not be ascertained.
Late Wednesday night, a rickshaw driver was also killed at the Burns Road within the Aram Bagh police precincts.
Aram Bagh SHO said that the victim was Pakhtun and drove a rickshaw to make a living. The SHO said that the body was shifted to the CHK, but his identity could not be ascertained.
BODY FOUND: A bullet-riddled body of a man was found in Baldia Town. Baldia SHO said that the body was taken to the CHK for autopsy and later shifted to the mortuary for want of identification. The SHO said that the identity of the victim could not be ascertained.
ENCOUNTER: Two bandits were killed in a police encounter in Nazimabad No 2. Central Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Asim Qaimkhani said that two bandits were looting passengers in a bus near Nazimabad No 2 when a police party on patrol opened fire on the criminals.
The SSP said that the bandits attacked the police with gunfire in retaliation. The officer said that the police managed to kill both the bandits in a brief encounter.
The policeman said that the bodies of the bandits were taken to ASH, adding that the identity of the criminals could not be ascertained.
