KARACHI, Feb 13: A Muttahida Qaumi Movement activist was shot dead a friend of his was wounded in a gun attack in the Lea Market area on Monday evening, police said.

Imran Memon, 25, son of Abdul Razzak, was sitting with his friend, Salman, outside an optician's shop when armed men riding a motorbike attacked them, said an official at the Kharadar police station.

The gunmen disappeared into the densely populated area of the old city follo-wing the attack, the official said.

Imran suffered two bullet wounds to his head and leg and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Civil Hospital Karachi.

His friend, Salman, was admitted for treatment to the CHK, where a large number of MQM workers subsequently gathered.

Kharadar SHO Ejaz Khokhar said Imran was a resident of New Kumharwara and an active worker of the MQM Unit 29.

Following the killing, tension gripped several old city areas with closure of markets in Kharadar, Lea Market, Khadda Market and Jodia Bazaar before the usual closing time.

Following the medico-legal formalities, the body was handed over to the family, the police said.

No FIR was lodged till Monday night.