KARACHI: An activist of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London was killed in an alleged encounter in Korangi on Saturday.

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed that suspect Azam alias Ganja was allegedly involved in targeted killings of four persons including an official of the Karachi Development Authority.

A CTD spokesperson said acting on a tip-off, the CTD and an intelligence agency carried out a joint action in Bagh-i-Korangi and killed the suspect after an exchange of gunfire. His one accomplice managed to escape. The police claimed to have seized a 9mm pistol from his custody.

“The killed suspect, Azam alias Ganja, was an active member of targeted killing team of Korangi sector and was a close aide of notorious killer, Junaid alias Bulldog,” said a CTD press release.

The CTD spokesperson said that Azam along with his accomplice killed a person in Korangi on the directions of a unit in-charge. He along with his other accomplices shot dead KDA officer Abdul Jabbar Mangi near Chiniot Hospital in 2013.

In the same year, he was also involved in killing of a MQM-Haqiqi worker in Landhi-8. The suspect also killed another worker in K-Area of Zaman Town.

“The suspect, Azam, was wanted by the CTD as there were cases registered against him,” said the press release.

A court had also issued his “perpetual warrant of arrest”. The seized pistol was being sent to the forensic science lab of the police for an examination.

Woman gunned down in city’s suburbs

A 50-year-old woman was shot dead in Gulshan-i-Maymar on Saturday in what police suspected to be an incident of killing in the name of so-called honour.

They said Guldasta was killed by armed pillion riders in Janjal Goth. The body was shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities. The suspects managed to escape from the crime scene.

Area SHO Mansoor Ali said it appeared to be a case of so-called “honour-killing”.

He said that the victim had married Sher Wali of her free will in her hometown in erstwhile Bajaur Agency around eight years ago. It was her second marriage and she had five children from her first marriage. Later, the coupled moved to Karachi.

The officer suspected involvement of the victim’s family members in the murder.

Jobless man commits suicide

A 25-year-old jobless man committed suicide in Jamshed Quarters on Saturday.

The police said that Saim Javed committed suicide by hanging himself inside his home in Baloch Para, Jahangir Road.

Area SHO Javed Brohi said he was unemployed and had also become an addict.

He was alone in his room and in the morning his family members found his body hanging from the ceiling fan.

The body was shifted to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital to fulfil medico-legal formalities.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2021