A 107- year-old spiritual healer was gunned down by an unidentified assailant Tuesday at his house within the jurisdiction of Orangi Town Police Station (PS). The body of Shabbir Alam, alias ‘Ittar waley baba’, son of Nazeer Alam, was found at his house located in sector 7-A Mustafabad. His son informed the police and the body was moved to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for an autopsy. “The incident took place when Shabbir was working inside his room,” said DSP Qaiser Ali Shah. “He was shot twice and died on the spot.” He was the father of two married daughters and one son, none of who were present at the time of his death.
According to initial investigation, the DSP said, an unidentified person came inside the house and opened fire on Shabbir and managed to flee from the scene without being seen. Answering a question, the DSP replied, “We are not sure of the motive behind the murder.”
Shah said that Shabbir was a spiritual healer and made potions for everyday problems including family, financial and love problems. “The majority of people, especially women, came here to get special potions made,” said Shah. The DSP also interceded that Shabbir could not have misbehaved with any woman at this age because of which somebody killed him. However, the failure of a potion or personal grudge and jealousy could have motivated someone.