KARACHI, Jan 3: An activist of the Pakistan People’s Party and close aide of Bilal Shaikh, the chief security officer of President Asif Ali Zardari, was killed by gunmen in Liaquatabad on Tuesday.

Police said Majeed Baloch, 28, was sitting at a shop near his home in Ilyas Goth within the remit of the Supermarket police station when assailants riding a motorcycle opened fire on him.

A passer-by, Ilahi Bakhsh, was also wounded in the firing, police said.

Supermarket police station SHO Mumtaz Shah said the killing was the result of a dispute between two groups.

“The firing was carried out by several suspects belonging to the Amn Committee. They were riding motorcycles. They actually targeted Majeed Baloch, but in the firing one of their own men was wounded along with a passer-by,” the SHO said.

“We have arrested the wounded suspect, identified as Owais,” he added.

The victim, Majeed, was also involved in drug peddling and was wanted in drugs cases registered at the Supermarket police station, the SHO said.

The wounded men were taken to the Civil Hospital Karachi, where Majeed was pronounced dead and the wounded passer-by and suspect were provided treatment.

District Centre president of the PPP Sohail Abidi told Dawn that Majeed was a PPP worker and close aide of Bilal Shaikh.

The District Central president condemned the killing and called for the immediate arrest of the killers.

No FIR in connection with the killing was lodged at the Supermarket police station till late in the evening.