KARACHI, March 6: A member of the Sindh Assembly belonging to Pakistan People's Party, Abdullah Murad Baloch, was shot dead along with his driver, Hanif Baloch, by unknown assailants in the Al-Falah Society area of Malir on Saturday morning.

The killing of the MPA triggered violence in parts of Malir and Al-Falah Society, which resulted in the suspension of traffic on Sharea Faisal - from Star Gate to Quaidabad in Landhi.

Protesters also blocked the rail track, delaying train traffic on the main railway line.

DIG Karachi Operations Tariq Jamil described the murder as target killing.

"It appears to be a target killing, as no one has claimed responsibility so far."

Mr Jamil said that investigations had been initiated to apprehend the killers.

Mr Baloch, who was elected from PS-127 Malir, played an important role in getting an FIR registered in the murder case of two minor girls - Hajra and Sassi - in Gadap Town.

The area where the girls' bodies were found falls in his constituency.

The parents of the girls had approached Mr Baloch following the discovery of their bodies on the premises of a veterinary hospital which was in use of Gadap police.

Mr Abdullah Murad Baloch was killed a day after the police obtained a remand of three police officials in the murder case of the minor girls.

Police said that the MPA, along with his driver Hanif Baloch, left his residence on Jamia Millia Road in Al-Falah police limits. A jeep with workers of his party was following his car.

As the car reached near Haji Ismail Park, near his residence while the jeep was some distance off, a man wearing Shalwar Qameez on a motorcycle intercepted the car and another man, armed with a Klashnikov and wearing shirt and jeans, showered the car with several rounds of bullets.

Mr Baloch was rushed to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival. He had suffered multiple bullet wounds.

He leaves behind four sons and two daughters.

Sketches of the killers were prepared with the help of Nawab Baloch, who was in the jeep and had seen the killers. The two gunmen immediately fled from the scene, a police official said.

The news of his murder caused anger among the residents of his constituency and they took to the streets. As his body was taken to his residence, hundreds of protesters blocked Sharea Faisal and started pelting stones at the passing vehicles.

Shops and markets were closed on a patch of the Sharea Faisal, Al-Falah and parts of Malir. A weekly bazaar at Malir-15 was also closed after it was attacked by a mob.

Besides, burning of two minibuses was also reported from Malir Kalaboard area.

Witnesses said that the police put a container on Sharea Faisal at Star Gate blocking the traffic. A heavy contingent of police and rangers reached the troubled spot and resorted to tear-gas shelling and baton-charge on the protesters.

Several people, including policemen and rangers, suffered minor injuries.

Divisional Superintendent Karachi Division Asrar Alvi said: "Three trains including Karachi Express and Bahauddin Zakaria Express could not leave for their destinations due to trouble. As soon as the clearance of the route is given by the police, we will allow them to leave."

DIG Tariq Jamil said: "We have picked up 35 people for their involvement in violence as a bus was torched and a petrol pump was ransacked on Sharea Faisal."

He said that Malir City, Al-Falah and a portion of Sharea Faisal remained affected by the protest rallies. However, the PPP Information Secretary Taj Haider in a statement claimed that more than 200 people were picked up by the law enforcement agencies.

Mr Baloch was laid to rest at a graveyard in Ghazi Town, Malir. His burial was attended by parliamentarians, politicians, government officials, family members and others.

Assembly session requisitioned