KARACHI: The city once again fell victim to law breakers on Sunday, as 17 more people, including activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Ahle Sunnat Wal-Jamaat, were killed.
Also, many city areas were shut down due to fierce gunbattles between different groups. Moreover, rockets were fired at the Jaffar-e-Tayyar Society, while the house of a Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader also came under attack in the same area.
The violence, which had started from Malir and Khokharapar early on Friday morning, claiming many innocent lives, has gradually spread to many other areas of the city.
Early on Sunday morning, three activists of the MQM were targeted in the Buffer Zone area in the Taimuria police limits. Police said that the deceased, identified as Owais, Raheel and Salahuddin, were activists of the MQM, Unit-136, North Karachi. Police officials added that the deceased were heading towards North Nazimabad on a motorcycle when, in the Buffer Zone area, armed men opened indiscriminate fire on them, gravely injuring all three. They were taken to a nearby hospital where they succumbed to their injuries. The incident is being termed as part of the ongoing cases of target killing in the city. The incident has been reported to the concerned police station.
Soon after, Iqbal Kiyani, 30, was shot dead in the Nabi Bux police limits. Police said the incident occured in the Ramswami area when the deceased was heading towards his home. Iqbal was a resident of Bohra Peer and the supporter of a political group. A case has been reported at the police station on the complaint of Basheer Kiyani, the father of the deceased.
Meanwhile, Irfan alias Amir was gunned down near Murgi Khana, Quaidabad. Police said the deceased, an activist of the MQM, was passing through a street when unidentified armed men, riding a motorcycle, fired on him, killing him on the spot. A passerby, Abdul Rasheed, also a friend of the deceased, was injured in the incident. Irfan was a resident of the Surjani Town area. Police termed it a case of target killing and the case was reported at the police station.
Another MQM activist, Badaruddin, who got injured on Friday in an armed attack in the Ammar-e-Yasir Society, Malir, and was under treatment at a hospital, died on Sunday.
At least 10 people were injured as armed groups clashed in Shah Faisal Colony, Drigh Road, Azam Town, Abul Hassan Isphahani Road, Sohrab Goth, Jehangir Road, Quaidabad, Baldia, Millat Town, Shadman Town, Memon Goth and Quaid-e-Azam Colony. The injured were shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed, Jinnah and some private hospitals. At Banaras, a Mashallah Coach came under attack in which a passenger got injured, while three people were injured in the Malir area. Firing incidents were also reported from the Malir City, Landhi, Saudabad and Khokharapar area.
Things got worse on Sunday evening when armed men riding motorcycles opened random fire on people on the streets near the Bohray Khan Center, Liaquatabad, injuring five people, including a boy Qayyum, 11. In Saudabad’s Jaffer-e-Tayyar Society, two rockets were fired but no casualty or injury was reported. There were also reports that armed men had attacked the house of PPP leader Sher Mohammed Baloch in the Malir area. While his car was damaged, no casualty or injury was reported in the incident.
Later, in the Surjani Town area, Naveed was shot dead while another person was injured. Police said the incident happened near the Siddiq-i-Akber Masjid in the evening when six to seven armed men on three motorcycles opened indiscriminate fire on the two and fled. Naveed was an activist of the ASWJ and a resident of the same area.
Soon after the above incident, in the same area, armed men attacked three more people, identified as Zafar, Furqan and Iqbal, killing all of them. Police said the incident happened near the Anda More, New Karachi. They added that the deceased, residents of Sector-9, New Karachi, were activists of the ASWJ. The police seized the empty casings from the scene of the crime which were of a 9mm pistol. Investigators termed the two incidents part of sectarian killings.
After the two incidents, armed men resorted to aerial firing in the area, forcing traders to close their businesses. The ASWJ leaders and activists protested over the killings and accused their rival group for the killings.
In Napier police limits, armed men killed Khalil Baloch. Police said the incident happened on Sunday night at the Soomro Gali. They added that the deceased was a labourer and was passing through a street when armed men on a motorcycle shot him dead.
The deceased was a resident of Azeem Pura and a supporter of the Peoples Aman Committee (PAC). The case has been reported at the concerned police station.
Furthermore, three people, Khalid, Ikhlaq and Kalay Khan, were killed in a firing incident at the Macca Madina Quetta Hotel in the Gulberg area.
Police said the three were working at the hotel when four armed men barged in and opened indiscriminate fire on them. They were shifted to a hospital where all the three were pronounced dead. Khalid hailed from Rahim Yar Khan, Kalay Khan from Hazara while Ikhlaq Khan was from Quetta. Investigators termed the incident part of target killing. A case was registered at the police station.
In the Khokharapar area, Asif alias Datto was shot dead. Police said armed men riding a motorcycle opened fire on Asif and fled. The deceased was an activist of the MQM Unit-94, Malir. The case was reported at the police station.
In Shah Faisal Mohallah of Orangi Town, two activists of the MQM were gunned down. Police said two armed men riding a motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire on Sohail alias Machlee Wala and Khurram and fled. One unknown person was also injured in the incident.
Both the deceased and the injured were activists of the MQM. After the incident, armed men resorted to aerial firing in the area and forced the shopkeepers to close their businesses.
Till our going to press, the situation in many areas of the city was tense and volatile.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Sindh, Wajid Ali Khan Durrani, taking notice of the continuing violence in the city, called a high-level meeting late in the night at his office. Talking to our sources, Durrani said that a pro-active approach will be taken by the police and he had issued orders of raids on disturbed areas. He claimed that the intelligence network had been expanded.
Our correspondent adds: President Asif Ali Zardari has convened a high-level meeting here on Monday to review the law and order situation in Karachi.
Sources said important decisions will be taken in the meeting to control law and order in the city.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan, the DG Rangers and senior police officials would attend the meeting.
The sources confirmed that Rehman Malik during his meeting with President Zardari on Sunday night briefed him on the situation, especially after the clashes between the two rival factions of the MQM.
The sources claimed that President Zardari had directed Rehman Malik to chalk out a joint strategy to maintain peace in Karachi.
Agencies adds: Sindh home department again imposed a ban on pillion riding in the wake of firing incidents in Karachi, TV channels reported on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Sunday said that political parties needed to make concerted efforts for restoration of peace in Sindh and particularly the economic hub city of Karachi in the larger national interest.
“There is no blame game, we need coordination with all the allied parties to restore peace and police and Rangers are playing their respective role,” Malik said while addressing media persons at the Jinnah International Terminal here on his arrival from Bhutan.
The minister said he was optimistic that the recently appointed Provincial Home Minister Manzoor Wassan was capable of tackling the issues of law and order.
To a question about the law and order situation in the province and particularly Karachi, the minister said that a special meeting had been convened in this regard here on Monday.
End.