KARACHI, Sept 7: An activist of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) was shot dead near his home in Surjani Town on Saturday, police said.

They added that armed men riding a motorbike targeted 45-year-old Khanzada Istehkam in Sector 36-B shortly after he left his home in the nearby Sector 50 of the Surjani Town.

“He was hit by two bullets in the head,” said Surjani Town SHO Inspector Shabbir Awan. He said: “Two men riding a motorbike fired at him when he was on his way to see some friend in Sector 36-B.

“The victim was associated with the PML-F but we are not sure about the motive for the killing.”

Gang warfare claims two lives

Two suspected gangsters were killed in an armed attack in Lyari on Saturday in what police described as infighting between criminal gangs.

The officials said Abdul Sattar alias Pera and Siraj Ali alias Jin were gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Street 16 of Gul Mohammad Lane. “Both were hit by multiple bullets and died on the spot,” said Kalakot SHO Inspector Saleem Marwat.

“The victims were area resident and sitting at a shop when they came under attack. The bodies were handed over to the families after medico-legal formalities.”Tension gripped parts of Lyari after the killing as traders pulled down shutters and vehicles gradually disappeared from the roads. The police, however, said the normality returned to the locality a couple of hours after the incident.

“Both the deceased had criminal record and were known for their association with gangs operating in Lyari,” the SHO said. “While the people behind the attack have not been identified so far, we have reasons to believe that their killings are part of the ongoing infighting between criminal gangs.”

‘Bandit’ shot dead

In Gulistan-i-Jauhar, an early morning encounter between police and armed bandits left one of the ‘bandits’ dead, officials said.

The officials added that four armed men stormed into the house of Mohammad Imran in Long Life Bungalows near Jauhar Morr early in the morning.

“Earlier, area people witnessing some mysterious movement had approached the police and informed them about it,” said an official at the Sharea Faisal police station. “Subsequently, a police party rushed to the area and spotted a car parked outside the bungalow. As soon as four armed men came out of the house, they fired shots at the police and an exchange of fire ensued. One of the bandits was killed on the spot while the house owner, Imran, who received a gunshot wound, was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.” Doctors said his condition was stable, the police official said.

The official added that three accomplices of the ‘bandit’ managed to run away with the booty. However, the police seized a TT pistol and seven rounds from the deceased bandit, who had not been identified yet, said the official.

Rickshaw driver killed

A 60-year-old rickshaw driver was shot dead in Orangi Town, police said.

They added that armed men targeted Kamil Shah near Metro Cinema under Banaras bridge.

The victim was a resident of nearby Frontier Colony, said an official at the Pirabad police station. “He was hit by two bullets in the head and neck. After medico-legal formalities at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, the body was handed over to the victim’s family,” he said.