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KARACHI, Aug 19: Gangsters shot dead another Baloch Ittehad Tehrik leader, Sorab Baloch, on Saturday night near Juna Masjid in the Kalri area of Lyari Town.
He is the second top leader of the Tehrik to fall victim to a mafia style targeted killing in what is widely believed to be the ongoing gang war in the locality.
Sorab Baloch, 43, a school headmaster and social worker, was the BIT secretary-general and close associate of the late BIT founder Anwar Bhaijan.
In 1997, he contested the election of a provincial assembly seat on the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) ticket. He was popular in all sections of the Baloch community because of his social services.
Eyewitnesses said Mr Baloch was returning to his Ali Mohammad Mohalla residence when near Juna Masjid gangsters riding a motorcycle shot him. He died before he could make it to hospital.
His assassination’s news spread like wildfire in the area and people thronged his residence. Shops, markets and restaurants remained closed since morning to mourn his death.
In Jan 2005, gangsters had shot dead BIT chief Anwar Bhaijan in a targeted killing.
The BIT has always been opposed to the ongoing gang war and termed it “a conspiracy against the Baloch people” by the local mafia.
Burial
Activists belonging to political parties and NGOs on Sunday morning attended the burial of the slain BIT leader. He was buried in the Morro graveyard in Gulbai.
Touching scenes were witnessed when the body of the popular leader was brought for the people so that they could catch a glimpse of him. People belonging to the Baloch community in Karachi, including those from Trans-Lyari and Malir, besides a large number of his admirers attended the burial.
Mr Baloch became the second political victim of the ongoing gang war. After the death of BIT chief Anwar Bhaijan, Sorab Baloch had taken upon himself the task of the party’s reorganisation. Of late, his organisation had been in the forefront of the campaign against the ongoing gang war in Lyari. The gangsters had threatened him of dire consequences several times.
