12 October 2004	Tuesday	26 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Oct 11: Naib nazim of a union council in Korangi and his associate were shot dead and a councillor was wounded when unidentified gunmen opened fire at them in Korangi.

Police said that Naib Nazim Mohammad Fahim, 35, was sitting with councillor Akhtar Abbasi, 50, and Saqib Beg, 25, at his godown in Korangi's sector 33-E when two armed men sprayed them with bullets and fled in a taxi (JN-2224).

As a result of firing, Fahim and Saqib died and Akhtar received bullet wounds. The bodies and the wounded councillor were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

According to area police, Fahim was elected as UC-7 Naib Nazim in Korangi Town with the support of Haq Parast group. Talking to Dawn Korangi Town Nazim Abdul Jamil Khan condemned the killing of Mohammad Fahim and said he was the third naib nazim of the same union council who died in the last two-and-half years.

He said that earlier Mohammad Ahmed from Khadim Panel was elected as naib nazim and after one year in office, he met a road accident and died. After his death, Abdul Qayyum from Al-Khidmat group contested the by-polls and got elected. He remained in office for one year and died of heart failure, he added.

CONDEMNATION: The coordination committee of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Monday deplored the killing of naib nazim, UC 7, Korangi Town, a supporter of the MQM, by the terrorists.

Speaking at a news conference at the Press Club, in charge of the committee, Mr Anwar Alam, also appealed to the president, prime minister, Sindh governor and the chief minister for ensuring appropriate measures for the arrest of the culprits.

Mr Fahim, naib nazim of UC 7, was gunned down along with one of his companions, when some masked men sprayed bullets on them, he said. Mr Alam advised the party followers not get provoked and face the situation with patience.

Answering a question about the suspects, Mr Alam said it was too early to say something, emphasizing that those who had been conspiring against the party in the past could be behind the killings. He told a questioner that it was police's job to find out the culprits.

Mr Alam said law and order was the responsibility of the provincial as well as the federal government and everyone else. He said the provincial government was doing all it could to maintain law and order. Mr Alam was flanked by Kunwar Naveed, Abdul Haseeb and Khaliq Baloch.