KARACHI: An Imambargah trustee was shot dead in Karachi's PIB Colony on Saturday in a suspected sectarian attack while he was on his way to Central Prison to attend a court hearing, police said.

Syed Rais Jafferi, 57, was travelling on a motorcycle when armed pillion riders attacked him near Marton Quarters, said Gulshan Superintendent of Police (SP) Abid Qaimkhani.

The victim sustained critical injuries and was transported to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) where doctors pronounced him dead.

The SP said that the victim was a trustee of Imambargah Jafferia in Rizvia Society.

"It appeared to be a sectarian killing and police are probing as to whether the same suspects targeted him,” said the senior police officer.

Jafferi had survived an attempt on his life in 2013 in Rizvia Society while was on his way to attend court proceedings inside Central Prison on the same matter.

Investigators collected two spent bullets fired from a 0.9mm pistol from the crime scene.

Karachi, the largest metropolitan city of Pakistan, is riddled with targeted killings, gang wars, and kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism. Targeted operations led by Rangers’ forces with the support of police are ongoing in the city under a directive issued by the federal government against criminals already identified by federal, military and civilian agencies.