KARACHI, Nov 14: At least three more people were gunned down in sectarian attacks in different parts of the city on Wednesday that witnessed a total of seven killings, police said.

In the sectarian attacks, a muezzin, said to be a supporter of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, was shot dead at a public call office on Nishtar Road; a young man belonging to the Tableeghi Jamaat was killed in Korangi and a teenage boy was gunned down in Orangi Town.

The police said that Qari Mohammad Imran, the muezzin of Noorani mosque, was targeted at his public call office, situated near Filmistan Cinema on Nishtar Road within the remit of the Jamshed Quarters police station.

“An armed man walked up to Qari Imran, who was sitting in his small cabin of the public call office, and fired a single shot at his eye,” said DSP Qaiser Ali Shah.

He said the killer escaped with his waiting accomplice on a motorcycle.

The police later found a spent bullet casing of a 9mm pistol at the crime scene, said the DSP.

“The motive for the killing is not yet clear. It can be personal enmity or the result of the ongoing sectarian violence in the city,” he said.

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

A spokesman for the ASWJ condemned the killing and said that the slain Qari was their sympathiser and muezzin of a local mosque.

In Korangi, a young man belonging to the Tableeghi Jamaat was shot dead in a drive-by shooting, police said.

They added that Mohammad Aslam, 24, was riding through Korangi 2-½ on his motorbike when he was targeted. The victim suffered gunshot wounds in the head and chest.

DSP Qasim Ghauri said that the victim was a resident of Sector 33-D and was associated with the Tableeghi Jamaat. He was scheduled to go abroad within the next few days, the officer said.

The police shifted the body to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medico-legal formalities.

Earlier, a teenage boy was gunned down near his house in Orangi Town in what police suspected to be a sectarian attack.

Shaujat Ali Naqvi, 18, was targeted near the Toori Bangash police kiosk in Raja Taveer Colony, said an official at the Iqbal Market police station.

He was rushed to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where he died during treatment, the official added.

Following medic-legal formalities, his body was shifted to the Rizvia Imambargah, where his funeral prayers were offered on Wednesday afternoon. The victim was later buried in the Wadi-i-Hussain graveyard.

Seminary teacher killed

In Bahadurabad, a seminary teacher was gunned down on Wednesday night, police said, adding that the motive did not appear to be sectarian. Samiul Haq, 32, a teacher at Tauheed Masjid, was killed outside the mosque in Dhoraji Colony, said an official at the Bahadurabad police station.

The attackers waited for him and did not fire at anyone else coming out of the mosque, the official said.

“He was returning from Shabbirabad after meeting his teacher at a mosque there when he was targeted in Dhoraji,” the official added.

The police later shifted the body to the JPMC for medico-legal formalities.

DIG (east) Shahid Hayat said that apparently it was not a sectarian killing. He said the two attackers stood outside the mosque and waited for Samiul Haq. They fled after killing him, he added.Only three days ago, the victim had returned from Mardan, his hometown, the officer said.

Labourer gunned down

A young man was killed in Manghopir, police said.

They added that Ghulam Mohammad, 36, was killed in Sultanabad within the remit of the Manghopir police station.

The victim was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The police said the victim hailed from Kotri and was a labourer. He resided in a rented house in Sultanabad. The motive for the killing was not immediately clear, they added.

Man shot dead

A young man was shot dead in New Karachi in the early hours of Wednesday, police said.

They added Kashif Waheed, 25, was passing through Bashir Chowk, Khamiso Goth, Sector 5-F of New Karachi Industrial Area, on his motorbike when armed men riding a motorbike targeted him.

The victim sustained gunshot wounds in the head and chest and died on the spot. The police shifted the body to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

The police said the victim was an area resident and used to work at a chicken shop. They added that he was not associated with any political or religious group.

Estate agent killed

An estate agent was killed in Ibrahim Hydri, police said.

They added that Saifullah, 50, associated with the property business, was shot dead. The body was taken to the JPMC for medico-legal formalities, the police said.

Ibrahim Hydri SHO Neak Mohammad Jakhari said the victim was a resident of Illyas Goth.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.