KARACHI: The killing of a teenage vendor at a weekly bazaar in Gulshan-i-Hadeed triggered hours-long blockade of main National Highway on Wednesday as heirs of the victim along with workers of political and nationalist parties blocked the key artery for vehicular traffic, demanding arrest of the killer.

The protest was finally over at around 9pm after the police registered an FIR on complaint of the victim’s brother.

Malir SP Saeed Rind told Dawn that a scuffle broke out between two vendors over parking their pushcarts in the Wednesday Bazaar in Phase-II. One of them, identified as Ubadiullah, took out a knife, stabbed 18-year-old Zahid Ali Mirani and fled. The teenager suffered critical injuries and was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where doctors declared him dead.

The incident angered area residents and heirs of the victim who while carrying the coffin of the deceased blocked the highway near Steel Town, and demanded immediate arrest of the suspect.

The sit-in was also joined by workers and leaders of different political and ethnic parties.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Dr Inam Siyal, who joined the protesters, vowed to continue the blockade of the highway till the arrest of the killer.

Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz leader Sanan Qureshi told the media that an innocent teenager had been killed and demanded justice.

Malir SSP Kashif Abbasi arrived at the scene and engaged the protestors for talks. He formed two teams led by the Malir SP for the arrest of the suspects and raids are being conducted with the help of modern technology, said a police spokesperson.

During the blockade, both lanes of the highway from Steel Town roundabout remained closed for traffic from 3:00pm till 9pm.

According to the FIR, Zahid Mirani and his cousin used to sell school bags in the weekly bazaar. Suspect Ubaidullah and his father Zameen Jan, were “jealous” with their flourishing business them and on Wednesday morning, started quarrelling with them in the bazaar and tried to prevent them from putting the stall. In the meantime, the suspect took out a knife from his stall and stabbed Zahid.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the sit-in and directed the city police chief to redress the grievances of the heirs of the victim.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2024