KARACHI, May 4: Three young men were shot dead by unknown assailants at the Liaquatabad Flyover early Monday morning, police officials said. They were later identified as Tariq Aziz, Zubair Ahmed and Imran - all friends. Police claimed that they had no affiliation with any political party.

According to the SHO Sharifabad police station the incident occurred as the three were heading towards the Natives Jetty Bridge on a motorcycle (KCO-5478). When they were on Liaquatabad Flyover, unknown persons riding a car first knocked them down from behind and when they fell unknown persons alighted from the car and sprayed the three with bullets.

Following the incident, victims were rushed to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where two Tariq and Imran were pronounced dead on arrival. Zubair Ahmed had reportedly told someone at the hospital that some of the attackers were wearing police caps.

However, he later succumbed to his wounds. Hospital sources confirmed that all the three victim's suffered multiple bullet wounds of an AK-47. However, police denied having this sort of information.

Tariq Aziz, father of three, resided in the Yousaf Plaza in the 'F.B. Area' and was running a small business. Zubair Ahmed and Imran were visiting the city from Hyderabad, police added. Their bodies were shifted to the Hyderabad for burial on Monday.

Meanwhile, Rabita Committee of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in a statement condemned the killing of three young men and expressed concern over the incident.

KILLED: A young man was shot dead by armed bandits during a robbery in Saeedabad early Tuesday morning. Police said that four armed men barged into a house in Yousaf goth- held the inmates at gunpoint and started collecting valuables.