KARACHI: A surge in number of killings in the city was witnessed on Wednesday when nearly a dozen people, including a policeman, a customs official and a Muttahida Qaumi Movement activist, were shot dead in different areas, while an assistant director of the Karachi Development Authority was wounded along with his driver in a gun attack.

On Tuesday, six people were gunned down in the city.

While the targeted attack on the customs official and his nephew in Landhi appeared sectarian, a senior police officer described the incident as the result of some personal enmity.

Syed Bahawal Shah, 45, and his 22-year-old nephew, Baqar Shah, were going in a car (AEE-199) when they came under attack near Labour Square in Quaidabad, said an official on Wednesday morning, police said.

Both the victims were rushed to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where they were pronounced dead on arrival, the police added.

The officials said a 9mm pistol was used in the drive-by shooting.

According to the police, Bahawal was a sub-inspector in anti-smuggling unit of customs and his nephew was an employee of Pakistan Steel Mills.

The victims hailed from Chakwal, Punjab, the police said.

“They had enmity back home in Chakwal,” said DIG (east) Shahid Hayat. “Their family is going to nominate someone in the case,” he added.

Sindh Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen Secretary General Allama Mukhtar Imami condemned ‘the targeted killing of five Shias in Karachi during 72 hours’.

Policeman killed A policeman was gunned down in Baldia Town, officials said.

They added that sub-inspector Mukhtar Jamal was passing through Sector 9-D when armed motorcyclists fired at him and sped away. He died on the spot.

The police investigators found spent bullet casings of 9mm pistol at the crime-scene.

He had been serving at the Saeedabad police station for the past 13 years, the police said.

Father of four, the victim belonged to Gujrat, Punjab.

MQM activist gunned down A Muttahida Qaumi Movement activist was shot dead in Kharadar, police said.

They added that Abid, 35, aka Nanha was targeted in Paper Market. He was rushed to the nearby Civil Hospital Karachi, where he died during treatment a few hours later.

Trader shot dead Later, a generator shop owner was shot dead in the Kharadar area, police said.

They added that Mohammad Asif, 27, was shot at and wounded inside his shop, Huba Electronics, by armed men who arrived there on a motorbike.

The victim died while being shifted to the Civil Hospital Karachi, the police said.

Four killed in separate incidents A member of the Bengali Action Committee students’ wing, Mohammad Zubair, 32, aka Kabir Ahmed Bengali, was shot dead in Korangi, police said.

A young man, Tasleem, was shot dead in Rizvia on Wednesday night, police said.

Two men were killed within the remit of the Sohrab Goth police station on Wednesday night, officials said, adding that their identity was not immediately ascertained.

KDA officer, driver attacked An assistant director of the Karachi Development Authority, Atta Abbas Zaidi, and his driver, Rauf Siddiqui, were wounded in a gun attack on their car in Liaquatabad on Wednesday evening, police said.