KARACHI: Karachi descended into a fresh spate of violence on Thursday after at least eight people were killed, 20 others injured and 12 vehicles set ablaze by unknown people in different parts of the city after the killing of an Awami National Party leader and his co-worker at the Quaid-i-Azam International Airport.
The provincial security-in-charge of the Awami National Party (ANP), Obaidullah Yousafzai, 52, and his colleague Saleem Akhtar were shot dead by unknown assailants near PIA cargo terminal at Quaid-i-Azam International Airport on Thursday.
Police said that both the victims were employees of the national flag carrier and were heading home when the incident took place.
A senior police officer said that as Obaidullah came out of the cargo terminal along with co-worker Saleem Akhtar who had asked for a lift in the car, a silver Cultus car intercepted them on the Cargo Terminal Road. The car was carrying four men.
One of the armed men came out of the Cultus and moved towards the car of Obaidullah, who, sensing danger, also came out of his car and tried to run back to his office, but the attacker sprayed him with gunfire, killing him on the spot.
Saleem Akhtar, a Christian, kept sitting in the car, but he too was not spared. The assailant shot a single bullet into his chest, SSP Investigation East 1 Niaz Khosa told Dawn.
After carrying out the shooting, the culprits managed to flee from the scene. Quoting hospital sources, police said the slain ANP leader suffered four gunshot wounds in the head and back. Police have collected one spent bullet casing and a 9mm magazine containing nine bullets from the scene, SSP Khosa said.
Police, quoting friends and family of the deceased, said that in view of security concerns, the ANP leader had recently moved to Malir Cantonment which was considered to be a relatively safe area.
The slain office-bearer of ANP had recently held the marriage ceremony of his son.
After the two bodies were taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for postmortem, a large number of ANP workers and supporters gathered outside the mortuary.
The agitated workers and supporters raised slogans against the government.
Police said that they also resorted to firing, creating panic in the area. Witnesses said that armed men also fired at passing cars, but fortunately no-one was hurt.
As the news of the killing spread, panic gripped the city as unknown people resorted to firing in different parts, forcing shopkeepers to down shutters. Body of Mr Yousafzai was flown to Peshawar on Thursday night.
MQM CONDEMNATION
The Rabita Committee of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement condemned the killing of the ANP leader.
The committee called for an early arrest of the culprits. It also offered condolence to the bereaved family.
ANP MOURNING
The Awami National Party has called for a three-day mourning in the city and warned that if culprits were not arrested within 72 hours, it would turn its mourning into a strike call and would consider leaving the provincial government.
Asfandyar Wali, the ANP chief, had been informed about decisions taken by the party’s Sindh chapter, a statement said.
VIOLENCE
Arson attacks and killings were mostly reported in Landhi, Banaras Chowk, Sohrab Goth, Abul Hasan Ispahani Road, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Korangi, Sultanabad and Merewether Tower.
City police chief Waseem Ahmed said that eight persons were killed in the city following the assassination of the ANP leader.
Quoting hospital figures, he said seven bodies were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and another was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
At the Civil Hospital Karachi, eight wounded persons were brought for treatment, he added.
As the news of Yousafzai’s assassination spread to city areas, residents took to the streets and hurled stones at passing vehicles. Protesters also burnt tyres and placed barricades to block the National Highway.
Gunfire was also heard crackling through various localities, forcing the closure of markets.
The first casualty of the violence was reported in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, where a government officer was shot at and wounded.
Police said that Syed Fayaz Husain Shah stopped his official car (GP-1203) near Rado Apartments in Block 12 of Gulistan-i-Jauhar and went to a shop to buy something, leaving his wife in the car.
As he walked towards the shop, armed men riding a motorcycle opened fire on him and sped away. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, the police said, adding that the motorcyclists had perhaps come to force closure of shops in the commercial area.
Rangers reportedly arrested some suspects from Abul Hasan Ishapani Road after a motorcycle was set on fire there.
In Landhi, the driver and loader of a pick-up truck, later identified as Chenzeb and Ajmal Khan, were killed and three others wounded when armed men intercepted them and sprayed them with bullets.
Police said that the truck was coming out of a factory after loading some merchandise when the firing took place. The incident occurred within the remit of the Awami Colony police station.
An unidentified man was targeted near Dawood Chowrangi in Landhi.
Another man was shot at and wounded within the jurisdiction of the PIB police station. Azhar Ali was shot at by unidentified armed men. The victim was rushed to the JPMC, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, the police said.
Armed men opened fire on a car near Banaras Chowrangi, leaving one dead and two others wounded. The deceased victim was identified as Obaid.
Additional police surgeon of the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital Dr Liaquat Memon said that Obaid was brought dead to the hospital. Besides, six people with gunshot wounds were treated at the hospital.
A man was shot dead near Al Asif Square by unknown attackers. Two persons were killed within the remit of the Korangi and Zaman Town police stations where unidentified assailants opened fire on them.
At least 12 vehicles, including buses, cars and motorcycles, were damaged in arson attacks in different part of the city.
A coach was set on fire within the remit of the Jackson police station. It was destroyed before the fire brigade could reach the scene.
Three buses were set on fire in Landhi No 1. Similarly, unidentified persons set fire to a bus near Merewether Tower.
A car was set ablaze on the M.T. Khan Road near Sultanabad.
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