KARACHI: Allama Ali Akbar Kumaili, son of Shia scholar Allama Abbas Kumaili was gunned down by unidentified assailants in the Sindh capital on Saturday, DawnNews reported.

Initial reports suggest that the incident took place in Azizabad neighbourhood.

Akbar Kumaili was shot three times and was taken to a local hospital in critical condition where he later succumbed to his wounds.

Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) and Tahaffuz Azadari Council (TAC) have strongly condemned the incident. They announced to observe a three-day mourning, which was later endorsed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Condemnation

Condemning the assassination of Allama Akbar Kumaili, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed grief over the death and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul.

He sympathised with the bereaved family and prayed to Allah Almighty to grant courage to them to bear the loss with equanimity.

The prime minister said that by forging unity, the people of Pakistan would foil the designs of those who were spreading terrorism in the country.

Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also condemned the tragic killing of Allama Ali Akbar Kumaili at the hands of terrorists and termed it a part of plot aimed at fanning sectarianism in the country.

In a press statement issued here, the PPP chairman termed the killing an attack on the very roots of this country and its historic diversity.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan also strongly condemned the killing in Karachi, saying it was an attempt to divide the country on sectarian lines.

Speaking to participants of his ongoing protest sit-in at D-Chowk in Islamabad, he said Shia, Sunni, Deobandi, Barelvi, Hindu, Sikh, Christian and all ethnic communities were Pakistani only.