Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

India-Pakistan

CTD official links recent spate of targeted killings in Karachi to ‘enemy country’

2023-09-23

[Dawn] A Sindh Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) official claimed on Friday that a series of murders carried out in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
in the past few months were linked to an "enemy country" and the police are closely examining the matter.

"This is assassination under a planned conspiracy," Raja Umar Khattab, a senior officer in the CTD, said in a statement.

While the official did not refer to specific murders or name a country in his statement, the remarks come weeks after the murders of two holy mans in separate attacks.

Ziaur Rehman, the administrator of the Jamia Abi Bakar madrassah in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, was murdered on September 12 and on September 6, Qari Khurram Shahzad, a seminary teacher was fatally shot in North Nazimabad.

The police had said then that they suspected the involvement of the Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW
... India's Research and Analysis Wing, Pakistain's equivalent of the Boogie Man...
). They had said that the murders were ostensibly aimed to incite violence as they coincided with the arrival of the holy month of Rabiul Awwal.

The third month of the Moslem calender, when the faithful celebrate Mawlid, the birthday of the Prophet Moammed.

According to Khattab, the police were carrying closely examining the evidence, and soon the culprits and their accomplices would be tracked down.

The Karachi police had last week said: "CTD has collected evidence of the incident, while during the preliminary investigation, evidence of the involvement of the intelligence agency of our neighbouring country, RAW, has been found in the incident," it said, without elaborating further.

HOSTILE AGENCIES
RAW’s involvement was suspected in the killing of a Jamaat-ud-Dawa
...the front organization of Lashkar-e-Taiba...
-linked person in Azad Jammu and Kashmir
...a disputed territory lying between India and Pakistain. After partition, the Paks grabbed half of it and call it Azad (Free) Kashmir. The remainder they refer to as "Indian Occupied Kashmir". They have fought four wars with India over it, the score currently 4-0 in New Delhi's favor. After 72 years of this nonsense, India cut the Gordian knot in 2019, removing the area's special status, breaking off Ladakh as a separate state, and allowing people from other areas to settle (or in the case of the Pandits, to resettle) there....
’s Rawalakot area last week.

Late last month, the Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....
Inspector General (IG) Dr Usman Anwar said that the police had unearthed a "network of hostile intelligence agencies" that were allegedly involved in the recent incidents of blasphemy

...the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence to a deity, or sacred objects, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable. Some religions consider it to be a crime. In Pakistain you can commit blasphemy by looking cross-eyed at a Koran...
across the country.

On August 16, a ~~violent~~ mostly peaceful mob of hundreds ransacked and torched nearly two dozen churches and attacked the residences of members of the Christian community and the office of the local assistant commissioner in Jaranwala.

He said the aforementioned events were a "conspiracy" to "divert attention" from the communal festivities in India’s Manipur state.

But unlike the Indian state’s response, Anwar continued, Pak officials, civil society and scholars helped and supported Christian victims and spoke up against the injustice.

Riiiiight. A bit of protesting too much there, buddy.

Karachi police also arrested an alleged Indian spy and his local controller in Lyari
...one of the eighteen constituent towns of the city of Karachi. It is the smallest town by area in the city but also the most densely populated. Lyari has few schools, substandard hospitals, a poor water system, limited infrastructure, and broken roads. It is a stronghold of ruling Pakistan Peoples Party. Ubiquitous gang activity and a thriving narcotics industry make Lyari one of the most disturbed places in Karachi, which is really saying a lot....
on August 23.

Link

India-Pakistan

Gunmen of a private housing society thrash cops in Sialkot

2023-09-01

[GEO.TV] On August 18, a Facebook user shared a clip of several men surrounding and thrashing two uniformed coppers on a main road.

The user alleged that one of the coppers seen in the video was Tahir Naqash, posted in Daska, Sialkot.

"This is very sad to see," the user wrote, "Is there no respect for the police? Is the Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....
police so weak?"

The caption added that none of the men who attacked the police have been arrested.

The post has been viewed over 27,500 times, to date.

Another Facebook user wrote that the button men of a private housing society had clobbered SHO Tahir Naqash.

A similar claim took off on the messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, here, here and here.

The Sialkot police confirm that an SHO and other cops were indeed tortured by the private button men of Aghaz Housing Society in the city.

Khurram Shahzad, a public relations officer at the district police office (DPO), told Geo Fact Check over the phone that on August 14, the Independence Day, the administration of the housing society had installed loudspeakers on a roof, which was a violation of the Punjab Sound Systems (Regulation) Act 2015.

Shahzad added that when the police tried to stop them, the society’s button men threatened and tortured the police. He explained that to date four men have been arrested.

"The men were also armed," Shahzad said, "Police recovered weapons from them."

Geo Fact Check has seen a copy of the police complaint.

Furthermore, a statement shared with Geo Fact Check by the spokesperson of the inspector general of Punjab Police also confirms that four men have been cuffed in connection to the violence, and the police have also recovered two rifles and one Kalashnikov from the arrested.

Separately, Geo Fact Check reached out to the management of the housing society for a comment, but has not received a response till the filing of this report.

Link

India-Pakistan

5 'Islami Jamiat Taleba students' suspended by Punjab University for thrashing man on campus

2018-10-26

[DAWN] Five Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....
University (PU) students allegedly associated with the Islami Jamaat Taleba (IJT) were suspended on Thursday for beating up a man who was sitting with his wife on campus.

The PU administration also suspended a security guard ─ who was present at the time ─ for his inaction.

Videos of the incident circulating on social media show a large crowd of onlookers gathered outside the PU History Department around the man who is being beaten up by some students, while a woman yells at them to stop.

"What has he done? He is my husband," she can be heard saying in an attempt to dissuade the perpetrators from beating the man up.

The man, identified as a Awais Rind, had gone to the History Department to pick up his wife when he was beaten by the IJT students, PU Spokesperson Khurram Shahzad said.

PU Vice Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed took notice of the incident and ordered PU Registrar Khalid Khan to take strict action against the students involved, Shahzad said.

"No one has permission to take the law into their own hands," the spokesperson said. He added that the incident was "unbearable" and assured that the administration will "maintain a peaceful atmosphere in the campus".

He said that five IJT students involved in Rind's thrashing have been suspended, along with a security guard who stood and watched instead of preventing them from beating the man.

A meeting of university administration officials took place today, after which it is expected that a formal notification will be issued announcing the suspension of the five students and the security guard.

Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar also took notice of the incident and sought a report from the administration, PU spokesperson said.

Link

India-Pakistan

ATC to hear Benazir murder case on daily basis from tomorrow

2017-08-22

[DAWN] An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Monday decided to hear the Benazir Bhutto
... 11th Prime Minister of Pakistain in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996. She was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistain People's Party, who was murdered at the instigation of General Ayub Khan. She was murdered in her turn by person or persons unknown while campaigning in late 2007. Suspects include, to note just a few, Baitullah Mehsud, General Pervez Musharraf, the ISI, al-Qaeda in Pakistain, and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who shows remarkably little curiosity about who done her in...
murder case on daily basis.

The last witness in the case recorded his testimony during Monday's hearing; the discussion on the case will start from Tuesday (tomorrow). Special public prosecutors Chaudhary Azhar and Khawaja Imtiaz will resume presenting their final arguments.

Former CPO Rawalpindi Saud Aziz and former SP Khurram Shahzad, who are currently on bail as they were accused in the case, and FIA Prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar appeared before the ATC on Monday.

ATC Judge Mohammad Asghar Khan postponed the hearing of the case until Tuesday.

Rawalpindi City cop shoppe SHO Kashif Riaz on behalf of the state had filed FIR 471/2007 on Dec 27, 2007, against unknown culprits for the murder of former premier Benazir Bhutto.

Eight different judges have headed the Benazir Bhutto murder trial and the prosecution has filed eight separate challans since the proceeding started on February 29, 2008.

Link

India-Pakistan

Al Qaeda man sentenced to life in prison

2015-08-17

[DAWN] Giving a verdict in the first-ever case submitted by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Lahore, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday awarded life imprisonment, with orders for confiscation of entire property, to an Al Qaeda member.

Convict Khurrum Shahzad of Rawalpindi was arrested by CTD police from Lorry Adda on May 13 this year and a hand-grenade and 10kg of kaboom were found in his possession.

Khurram Shahzad confessed that he had planted a bomb in the washroom of a bus stand. The bomb was also recovered by CTD officials.

The CTD started the paperwork but haven't done much else against the suspect under anti-terrorism charges and during investigation it was revealed that the suspect belonged to Al Qaeda and was involved in transporting arms, ammunition and kaboom to carry out attacks.

CTD police presented the suspect before the ATC after completion of challan
... list of charges ...
and investigation. After a cross- examination of witnesses and trial, presiding judge Muzaffar Husain Shah announced the verdict.

The court convicted Khurrum Shahzad and awarded life imprisonment besides confiscation of his moveable and unmoveable property.

Link

India-Pakistan

'Military takes over Imambargah case investigation'

2015-07-14

[DAWN] Zain Shah is very worried. The caretaker of an imambargah that has been the target of two suicide kabooms, he continues to fear a third.

"We have not received any direct threats from anyone," he tells Dawn but adds that "the local police have told me that the threat levels are very high and that we should be on our guard."

With a furrowed brow, the old man in a white shalwar kameez gets ready to say his prayers, as he talked to Dawn.

The attack happened on February 18, 2015, when a suicide attacker went kaboom! outside the Imambargah
...since Pakistain is very religiously correct, Shia Moslems can't call their houses of worship 'mosques,' which are reserved for Sunnis. It's not clear if imambargahs are used for explosives storage like mosques are...
Qasr-e-Sakina, killing two people and injuring several others.

The damage could have been a lot worse had the bomber managed to make his way inside, but he was stopped by the two guards who bit the dust but averted a greater tragedy.

The imambargah is located at the junction of the Islamabad Expressway and Kuri road in Shakrial.

The first attack on the imambargah happened in December 2009. The caretaker's fears become more palpable when he revealed that he had no information about any progress in the investigation of the attack.

Shah said so far he had not been summoned to court, asked to testify or been approached by the investigating authorities.

All he knows is that the investigation has reportedly been taken over by the military authorities and the police are no longer working on the case.

As the complainant in the FIR of the attack -- registered in Shahzad Town Police Station -- he had approached the police a number of times to ask them for an update, "but each time I get told that the military is investigating the case."

"The police give us the same answer each time; that they will update us when they hear something from the military. But there has been no progress in all these weeks. How can I feel safe when I know those people are still out there," he asked, rhetorically.

Shah said so far he had not been summoned to court, asked to testify or been approached by the investigating authorities.

It is pertinent to mention that the day after the incident a protest was held, blocking the Expressway. This increased the pressure on the law enforcement agencies and resultantly the investigation was transferred to the intelligence agencies.

This is not surprising. In a number of high-profile cases which either caused excessive fatalities or where the target was an important personality, the traditional response is to establish a joint investigation team because it becomes an act of terrorism. Such teams depend on the information and capabilities of the intelligence agencies rather than the police. Such as joint investigation teams were established after the district court attack, blast in fruit and vegetable market etc.

As a result, the police have not much to offer. A police official requesting anonymity said in the past different sections of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) claimed the credit for various attacks. For instance, a TTP splinter group, Ahrarul Hind, grabbed credit for an attack on the Islamabad High Court in March 2014. But, he added that the TTP or any of its splinter groups did not claim the imambargah attack.

"The attack on imambargah Qasr-e-Sakina looks like a continuation of the sectarian killings in Pakistain. And, like other sectarian cases, the arrest of the culprit seems difficult," he said.

Khurram Shahzad Qureshi's father Ghulam Hussain was one of those who lost his life while stopping the suicide attacker. Khurram told Dawn that his 63-year-old father would come to pray at the imambargah and was volunteering as a guard on that fateful day. Like Shah, Qureshi also said he would not feel safe until the criminal mastermind behind the two attacks on Qasr-e-Sakina was brought to justice. "As long as the perpetrators and criminal masterminds are on the lam, there will always be the chance of another attack," he said.

Link

India-Pakistan

Ex-ISI official refuses to testify in Benazir case

2015-06-03

[DAWN] RAWALPINDI: Former official of the Inter-Services Intelligence
...the Pak military intelligence agency that controls the military -- heads of ISI typically get promoted into the Chief of Army Staff position. It serves as a general command center for favored turban groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, tries to influence the politix of neighboring countries, and carries out a (usually) low-level war against India in Kashmir...
(ISI), a key witness in the case, on Monday refused to testify against the suspects of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) being tried in Benazir Bhutto
... 11th Prime Minister of Pakistain in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996. She was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistain People's Party, who was murdered at the instigation of General Ayub Khan. She was murdered in her turn by person or persons unknown while campaigning in late 2007. Suspects include, to note just a few, Baitullah Mehsud, General Pervez Musharraf, the ISI, al-Qaeda in Pakistain, and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who shows remarkably little curiosity about who done her in...
murder case.

Ex-telephone operator of the ISI excused himself from testifying before the court ,saying his life is in danger as he lives in Karak district which is close to tribal areas.

Consequently, the anti-terrorism court (ATC) discarded his earlier statement which he recorded before the team investigating Benazir murder case.

The former official had confirmed to the investigating team that he intercepted the communication between the suspects and TTP terrorists.

Five suspects Aitzaz Shah, Rafaqat Hussain, Husnain Gul, Sher Zaman and Abdul Rashid are facing trial in the case.

Besides, former president retired Gen

Pervez Perv Musharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
, former CPO Rawalpindi Saud Aziz and former SP Khurram Shahzad were also accused in the case.

Besides, refusal of former operator of ISI, another witness, Mark Seigel, could not testify before the court.

The prosecution had informed the court that Seigel could record his statement through video link.

The FIA prosecutor told the court that interior secretary was in contact with the Foreign Office and the officials of the Pakistain embassy in the US to contact Mr Seigal and arrange video link facility for him in the embassy.

Link

India-Pakistan

BB murder case: ATC accepts re-trial plea

2013-10-09

[Dawn] An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi Tuesday accepted a request to hold fresh trial of a case pertaining to the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto
... 11th Prime Minister of Pakistain in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996. She was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistain People's Party, who was murdered at the instigation of General Ayub Khan. She was murdered in her turn by person or persons unknown while campaigning in late 2007. Suspects include, to note just a few, Baitullah Mehsud, General Pervez Musharraf, the ISI, al-Qaeda in Pakistain, and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who shows remarkably little curiosity about who done her in...
, DawnNews reported.

The counsel for Tanveer Kaira Sardar Latif Khosa and accused persons former City Police Officer (CPO) Saud Aziz, and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Khurram Shahzad attended today's hearing in the ATC.

During the hearing, the defence and prosecuting lawyers presented their arguments over the application seeking to prevent the main accused former military ruler

Pervez Perv Musharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
from becoming a party in the case.

Akhtar Shah, belonging to the Pakistain Social Justice Party, argued that being a former president of the country, Pervez Musharraf could not be held responsible in the case, adding that the president's office enjoyed complete immunity.

Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) prosecutor Chaudhry opposed the application and said that Akhtar Shah could not become a party in the case.

The court reserved its judgment on the application seeking to prevent Musharraf from becoming a party in the case and later, dismissed the said request.

The court accepted the request seeking a re-trial of the case and ordered the FIA to present a list of witnesses at the next hearing.

The hearing of the case was subsequently adjourned to October 22.

Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a gun-and-kaboom outside Rawalpindi's Liaquat Bagh on December 27, 2007. She was killed after addressing an election campaign rally in the city.

Link

India-Pakistan

Musharraf charged with Benazir's murder

2013-08-23

[Dawn] Former military ruler General (retd)

Pervez Perv Musharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
was indicted on three counts Tuesday in Rawalpindi's anti-terrorism court (ATC) over the 2007 murder of ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto
... 11th Prime Minister of Pakistain in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996. She was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistain People's Party, who was murdered at the instigation of General Ayub Khan. She was murdered in her turn by person or persons unknown while campaigning in late 2007. Suspects include, to note just a few, Baitullah Mehsud, General Pervez Musharraf, the ISI, al-Qaeda in Pakistain, and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who shows remarkably little curiosity about who done her in...
Musharraf was also produced in the ATC amidst tight security during today's hearing of the case headed by ATC judge Habibur Rehman.

A challan
... list of charges ...
was read out against the former president and seven others nominated in Benazir's murder during the hearing.

"He was charged with murder, criminal conspiracy for murder and facilitation for murder," public prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar told AFP at the ATC in Rawalpindi hearing the case.

The seven accused persons include former City Police Officer (CPO) of Rawalpindi Saud Aziz, the then SP Khurram Shahzad, Hasnain Gul, Rafaqat Hussain, Sher Zaman, Abdul Rasheed and Aitzaaz Shah respectively.

Musharraf and the accused men denied the charges.

The court ordered the authorities to produce all the defendants in a hearing fixed for August 27 as it subsequently adjourned the matter to the said date for evidence to be brought.

Link

India-Pakistan

BB murder site washed off on SP's order: witness

2013-02-21

[Dawn] A key witness in Benazir Bhutto
... 11th Prime Minister of Pakistain in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996. She was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistain People's Party, who was murdered at the instigation of General Ayub Khan. She was murdered in her turn by person or persons unknown while campaigning in late 2007. Suspects include, to note just a few, Baitullah Mehsud, General Pervez Musharraf, the ISI, al-Qaeda in Pakistain, and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who shows remarkably little curiosity about who done her in...
's murder case on Wednesday informed an anti-terrorism court that the site (along with vital evidence) was washed off immediately after the incident on orders from the then Superintendent Police of the area.

District Emergency Officer Dr Abdul Rehman appeared before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC-I) and repeated his earlier statement that washing of the murder site was performed after receiving order from SP Rawal Town Khurram Shahzad.

"The murder site of Benazir Bhutto was washed out under the order and direct supervision of Superintendent of Rawal Town Police Khurram Shahzad," the officer said ratifying his earlier statement recorded under Section 164 of Pakistain Penal Code (PPC).

Special Judge of the ATC Chaudhry Habibur Rehman read out his statement containing seven pages and asked the witness to confirm his statement given before Magistrate Kamran Cheema, besides thumb impression and signature.

After hearing the statement, Dr Abdul Rehman endorsed its contents and said that he stood by his statement about hosing down the scene of the crime after receiving orders from SP Khurram Shahzad under his supervision.

The court adjourned the hearing till February 21 and summoned the prosecution witnesses, including Dr Abdul Rehman, Ghulam Muhammad Naz and Magistrate Ahmed Masood Janjua for cross-questioning.

The Pakistain People's Party (PPP) chairperson and the former prime minister was assassinated in a public gathering in a park in Rawalpindi on Dec 27, 2007.

Earlier on Feb 13, the Lahore High Court had directed the ATC to complete the Benazir Bhutto murder case trial in three months.

The court issued the order on a petition filed by the FIA on Jan 5. The FIA had earlier filed three petitions for daily trial and the LHC had directed the ATC for expeditious disposal of the case.

The high-profile case has lingered on in courts for more than five years now.

Link

India-Pakistan

Gunmen kill three including PAF guards in Pasni: officials

2013-01-29

[Dawn] Gunmen rubbed out two Pakistain Air Force (PAF) security guards and a shopkeeper in Pasni area of Balochistan

...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
province on Monday, officials said.

The three were killed in the Pasni area of Gawadar district, 720 kilometres (447 miles) southwest of the thriving provincial capital Quetta.

"The dear departed soldiers were identified as Muhammad Ibrahim and Khurram Shahzad while the local shopkeeper was named as Elahi Bukhsh resident of Awaran district," local official Abdul Fatah Bhanger told AFP.

Another official said the security personnel came under attack while buying food at a market.

"The security personnel came to Pasni bazaar for purchase of edible items when unknown gunnies opened indiscriminate fire on them," Akbar Hussain Durrani, the home secretary of Balochistan, told AFP.

"After the attack, the gunnies escaped on a

cycle of violence," he said.

Later, Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), a rebel group, grabbed credit for the attack.

"Security personnel are our targets, but we did not intend to kill the shopkeeper," Gwaram Baloch, a BLF front man said.

"We have time and again warned the local people to stay away from the security forces because they are on our target," he added.

Elsewhere, in Lasbela district, some 400 kilometers (248 miles) south of Quetta, two cement factory employees were maimed in a hand grenade attack as they travelled home from work on a bus.

Hundreds of people have died in the province since Baloch rebels rose up in 2004 demanding political autonomy and a greater share of profits from the region's wealth of natural oil, gas and mineral resources.

The area is also plagued by Islamist militancy and sectarian violence.

Link

India-Pakistan

MQM, PPP men among 12 shot dead in city

2012-09-28

[Dawn]

Twelve men, including two workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement
...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead...
, were bumped off on sectarian and political grounds on Wednesday, as the government and law-enforcers failed to take measures to stem the rising wave of assassinations in the city.

In yet another incident of assassination on sectarian grounds, an engineer working at a cellular firm was rubbed out near his residence in Federal B Area's Block 17.

The police said that Mirza Zaheer Abbas, 35, was returning home after dropping off his children at a nearby school in the morning when assailants wearing helmets and riding a

cycle of violence targeted him near Rehmat Bakery within the remit of the Samnabad cop shoppe. The killers escaped.

The victim suffered a bullet wound in the head and was struck down in his prime. The body was shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

He was father of three.

"The victim had left home for work but returned to take his lunch box and that was when he was targeted," said Liaquatabad division SP Salman Hasan. "First he dropped his children to a nearby school and left for work, but returned home to take his lunch. All of his belongings were there. They didn't take along even his cellphone."

He said that a 9mm pistol was used in the killing. "So far circumstancial evidence suggests that it is another sectarian killing."

Following the murder, tension gripped the Incholi, Gulberg and Samanabad areas where shops and other businesses were closed in protest against the killing.

Amid strict security arrangements, the body was taken from the hospital to Inchoali and the funeral prayers were held at the Imambargah Khairul Amal. A large number of people attended the funeral of the victim. The victim was laid to rest in the Wadi-e-Hussain graveyard.

The police quoted family sources as saying that the victim had no enmity.

MQM men, passer-by rubbed out

A worker of the MQM and a passer-by were bumped off and two others maimed in an armed attack within the remit of the Rizvia cop shoppe on Wednesday.

Police said that Zafar aka Aligadhwala was sitting near an eatery, Zamindar Hotel, where four men riding two cycle of violences emerged, pulled out their weapons and fired shots targeting him.

"The assailants hit a motorcyclist while fleeing and they shot him too to ensure their safe escape," said area DSP Rustum Khattak. The firing also left two men, identified as Altaf and Iqbal, maimed.

All the four persons were shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where Zafar and the motorcyclist, Zahid Hussain Zaidi, were pronounced dead on arrival.

"The MQM activist was the real target of the assailants, but they didn't take any chances and killed the other man as well," DSP Khattak observed.

The police said that Zafar was a worker of Unit 189 of the Gulbahar sector of the MQM's organizational structure.

The second victim was living near Jafria Imambargah and was not associated with any political or religious party, he added.

Following the killings, tension gripped the locality and shops and markets were shut.

Meanwhile,
...back at the pound, Zebulon finally found just the friend he'd been looking for...
another worker of the MQM was rubbed out in Korangi Industrial Area on Wednesday.

Police said that the incident took place in Haji Ibrahim Goth where two gunnies riding a motorbike targeted Mahir Ali, 32.

The victim was a resident of the same area and a member of the MQM's Muttahida Organising Committee, the police said, adding that at the time of the incident he was going to bring his children from school.

He was a labourer.The victim suffered gunshot wound in the head and died before he could be taken to hospital. The body was moved to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medico-legal formalities.

Following the incident tension gripped the locality and shops were close down.

PPP man, friend shot dead in Surjani

Two persons, including an activist of the Pakistain People's Party, were bumped off in Surjani Town on Wednesday night.

Police said that gunnies riding a cycle of violence targeted two men, 32-year-old Umar Sheikh and Lal Fazal, who were sitting outside their house in Khuda Ki Basti within the remit of the Surjani Town cop shoppe.

The victims were rushed to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where they died.

A local PPP leader, Sohail Abidi, said that victim Sheikh was an active worker of the party. He was married about four months back, he said.

He condemned the continuing killing of the PPP workers in the city and called for an immediate arrest of the culprits.

'MQM supporter' killed in Lyari

A young man was killed in Lyari
...one of the eighteen constituent towns of the city of Karachi. It is the smallest town by area in the city but also the most densely populated. Lyari has few schools, substandard hospitals, a poor water system, limited infrastructure, and broken roads. It is a stronghold of ruling Pakistan Peoples Party. Ubiquitous gang activity and a thriving narcotics industry make Lyari one of the most disturbed places in Karachi, which is really saying a lot....
on Wednesday night, police said.

SP-City Sarfraz Nawaz said that the victim, identified as Bilal, was seriously maimed and died at hospital during treatment. "He came to the Lee Market area to meet someone. He was standing there when gunnies riding a cycle of violence targeted him and rode away," he added.

The police said that the victim was a resident of the Defence area.

They said that victim's friends who had come to the hospital told the police that he was not a member of any political party, but a supporter of the MQM.

Youth killed, two maimed in attack

A young man was killed and two others maimed in an armed attack inside a Wednesday Bazaar in New Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
on Wednesday night.

Police said that the incident took place within the remit of the New Bloody Karachi cop shoppe where gunnies walked into a weekly bazaar and shot up Nisar alias Pamperwala and fled.

The victims were rushed to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where Nisar was pronounced dead on arrival.

The police said that it was not immediately clear if the victim had any political affiliation or not.

'Peddler' rubbed out in Orangi

A young man was killed in Orangi Town on Wednesday.

The Mominabad police said that gunnies opened fire on Naeem Baloch, 30, in Faqeer Colony and escaped.

The victim was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
He's dead, Jim!
on arrival. He suffered two bullet wounds in the head and neck causing his instant death.

DSP Abdul Waheed said that he was a drug peddler and had been released from jail three days back. He was probably killed by his opponents, he added.

Man rubbed out in Shanti Nagar

A man was killed in Shanti Nagar on Wednesday evening.

Police said that assailants riding a cycle of violence opened fire on Jameel Shetho, 35, who was sitting outside his house. The victim died before he could be shifted to a hospital. Later, the police shifted the body to the JPMC for medico-legal formalities.

They said that they were looking into the background of the victim to ascertain the motive of the killing.

Body found in gunny bag

The body of a man stuffed in a gunny bag was found in Lyari on Wednesday.

Police said that body was found on Mirza Adam Khan Road within the remit of the Chakiwara cop shoppe.

The victim had been shot in the head.

The police shifted the body to the Civil Hospital Bloody Karachi where he was identified with the help of an identity card as Khurram Shahzad, 32.

They said that according to the ID card the victim was a resident of Mauripur and originally hailed from Punjab.

Elderly man rubbed out in Malir

An elderly man was bumped off in a Malir locality on Wednesday night.

Police said that assailants riding a motorbike fired at Nazeer Ahmed Nawab, 60, who was sitting close to his house in Hansabad within the remit of the Al-Falah cop shoppe.

The victim died before he could be shifted to hospital.

The police said that the killing appeared to be a result of some personal enmity.

The body was shifted to the JPMC for medico-legal formalities.

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