KARACHI, Oct 16: A journalist was shot dead in Lyari on Monday night. Azar Abbas Hydri, associated with an Islamabad-based English daily, was intercepted by armed men near Aath Chowk at around 1:30 am.

“They roughed him up when he offered resistance. They took away one of his two cellphones before shooting him in the back,” Abuzar, brother of the victim told Dawn.

However, SP Lyari Fayyaz Khan contested the statement and quoted the SHO concerned as saying that the body was found lying at a section of Sheedi Village Road. He also referred to some reports that the body was thrown out a moving auto-rickshaw. Azar Abbas had come to the city to celebrate the Eid with his family.