A man was shot dead while his relative injured critically in a suspected sectarian attack in the Sachal area of Karachi on late Saturday night, police officials said.

"Deceased man identified as Syed Kamran Abbas, 35, and injured as Anwar Ali Kazmi, 50, were returning home after attending a Majlis in New Rizvia Society in a car when armed pillion riders attacked them on main University Road," said police officials.

The victims were transported to the nearby Dow University Hospital where doctors pronounced Abbas as dead on arrival.

Gulshan SP Dr. Fahad Ahmed said the, "Victims belonged to the Shia community and the incident might be linked with sectarianism," said Gulshan Superintendent of Police Dr. Fahad Ahmed.

Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen spokesperson Allama Raja Nasir while condemning the incident said, "On one hand, the mourners were being targeted while on the other hand Shia community members were being detained".

“When would the army chief take notice of killings of the mourners in the city?” added the statement released by MWM.

In a separate incident, 19-year old, Israr Ahmed was shot dead in Muscat Colony of Orangi Town, said the police spokesperson.

Karachi operation

The ‘operation’ against criminal elements in Pakistan’s commercial hub was initiated back in September 2013 after the federal cabinet empowered Rangers to lead a targeted advance with the support of police against criminals already identified by federal military and civilian agencies for their alleged involvement in targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism in Karachi.

A high-level apex committee meeting chaired by the Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif on May 14, 2015 decided to implement effective policing and surveillance in the "vast suburbs of Karachi", to prevent what the military spokesperson said were "sneaking terrorist attacks"