KARACHI, May 16: Three more Muttahida Qaumi Movement workers and a member of the outlawed People’s Amn Committee were gunned down in different areas on Wednesday in what appeared to be a renewed wave of targeted attacks following the Tuesday killing of three MQM activists in the city.

While police were still investigating the previous day targeted attack on a former UC councillor belonging to the MQM in PECHS, two active party workers, including an ex-UC nazim, were shot dead in less than 24 hours in Malir.

Fear and tension gripped Jinnah Square, Malir 15, Liaquat Market, Khokhrapar, Saudabad, Kala Board and Rafah-i-Aam Society and surrounding areas following the two murders within the remit of the Saudabad police stations.

Khursheed Iqbal, 45, was riding a motorbike when he was sprayed with bullets by armed men riding a motorbike near Millat Garden, said a duty officer at the Saudabad police station.

Describing the incident as a targeted killing, SDPO Imdad Solangi told Dawn that the victim was shot at seven times, causing his instant death on the spot. The body was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medico-legal formalities.

He said the victim was associated with the MQM and was a former nazim of UC-5, Malir.

DSP Solangi quoted the victim’s family as saying that they would lodge an FIR after the burial.

Tension engulfed many parts of Malir following the murder as gunfire forced traders to pull down shutters.

Earlier, a trader associated with the Muttahida was killed in a similar way in the Liaquat Market area of Malir, police said.

Zubair Siddiqui, 34, was a resident of Fareed Colony, said an official at the Saudabad police station.

DSP Imdad Solangi said Mr Siddiqui was an MQM Unit 99 worker. He was apparently going home after closing his shop when he sustained four gunshot wounds and died on the spot, the officer added.

The body was taken to the JPMC and later handed over to his family. In Orangi, a Muttahida activist was gunned down just a couple of months after his 18-year-old son was shot dead in the area, police said.

Hasnain Malick, 48, was targeted at around 10am by armed riders in Bangla Bazaar, Sector 15-C of Orangi, said an official at the Pakistan Bazaar police station.

He said the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died before he was shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. A large number of party workers later reached the hospital after learning about the killing.

The police claimed to have found several spent bullet casings of 9mm pistol from the crime-scene.

Soon after the morning killing, some armed youths fired into the air, compelling traders to shut their businesses. Orangi Sectors 11, 13, 14 and 15 remained in the grip of tension with reports of intermittent firing that kept commercial activities suspended for hours.

According to the police, the victim’s son, Altaf Malick, was gunned down in the same area in March though he was not associated with any party.

Meanwhile, Muttahida leaders, workers and supporters attended the funeral of former UC-7 councillor of the MQM Anwar Alam, who was shot dead on Tuesday evening near his home in PECHS.

The funeral prayers were offered at Rahmania Masjid on Tariq Road. He was later buried in the nearby graveyard.

Two brothers shot dead

Two brothers were shot dead in Gulshan-i-Mazdoor, Baldia, police said.

Residents of Mowach Goth, Saeed Baloch and Abdul Mujeeb Baloch were shot dead by armed riders only a few days after their elder brother, Islam Baloch, was killed, said an official at the Saeedabad police station.

The police shifted the bodies to Civil Hospital Karachi for medico-legal formalities.

SHO Tariq Islam said Saeed Baloch had lodged an FIR (243/2012) of his elder brother against unidentified men.

The victim had relocated from Lyari to Mowach Goth a month ago, said the police suspecting personal enmity as a possible motive for the killing.

Rickshaw driver killed

A rickshaw driver was shot dead apparently by a passenger on Burnes Road on Wednesday night, police said.

They added that the driver sustained a gunshot wound to his hip. He was rushed to the CHK, where he died during treatment.

“Apparently someone sitting in the passenger seat shot at him,” said Preedy ASP Ali Asif.

Body found

A young man was found shot dead on Mir Alam Road within the remit of the Baldia police station, said officials.

They added that a loaded pistol was also found at the crime-scene.

Quoting eyewitness accounts, the police said the young man was pushed to the ground by armed men riding two motorbikes.

They opened fire on him and sped away.

The victim sustained four gunshot wounds and died on the spot. SI Asghar Ali said the victim appeared a Baloch though police could not find any clue to his identity.

The body was shifted to the Civil Hospital for medico-legal formalities and later moved to the Edhi morgue for want of identification.

PAC man

A member of the outlawed People’s Amn Committee was shot dead near Niazi Chowk within the remit of the Kalri police station on Wednesday night.

The officials said Aslam Niazi alias Commando, 38, was sitting with friends near Niazi Chowk, Shah Waliullah Road, when two armed men riding a motorcycle pulled up there and shot at him before fleeing.

The body was later shifted to the CHK for medico-legal formalities.

SHO Safdar Mashwani said Aslam was associated with a Lyari gang and the banned PAC.

He was wanted by the police in several criminal cases, added the officer.

Tension gripped Niazi Chowk and its surrounding areas following the shooting.

Man gunned down

A resident of Rasheedabad, Baldia, Sardar Hussain, was standing at a bus stop near Metro Cinema in Banaras when armed men riding a motorbike opened fire on him, said an official at the Pirabad police station.

The victim sustained four bullet wounds and died on the spot. The body was shifted to the JPMC for medico-legal formalities and later handed over to the victim’s family.

The police suspected that the murder was a result of some personal enmity.