KARACHI, Aug 15: After a few weeks’ lull, the scourge of sectarianism returned to the city late on Tuesday night when a man was shot dead in Gulbahar, police said.

“A bullet lodged in the victim’s head caused his instant death,” they added.

Soon after the killing, violence erupted in the adjoining localities, where shops were forced to close and firing was resorted to. One of the four people injured in different incidents of firing died in hospital.

The main Golimar Road was closed by police at Lesbela traffic intersection as the whole of Gulbahar and Rizvia Society up to Nazimabad was gripped by the violence.

Police said initially Sajid Hussain, 38, was targeted near Jafria Imambargah near the Lasbela bridge.

Two suspects riding a motorcycle targeted him and escaped.

The victim was rushed to the Abbasi Shaheeh Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was shot a single bullet in the head, the police said.

He was a member of the Qayam-i-Vilayat, the welfare wing the Majlis Wahdat-i- Muslimeen, a spokesman for the organisation said.

As the news of Mr Hussain’s killing spread to different parts of Gulbahar and Rizvia Society, enraged people took to the streets and pelted passing vehicles with stones on the main Golimar Road.

SP-Liaquatabad Division Syed Salam Hasan described Mr Hussain’s killing as motivated by sectarianism. However, he said Saad died during the violence that erupted when markets were forced to shutter.

The four injured — Saad Ahmed, Danish Hussain, Faizan Noor and Kamran Jameel — were shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital by the rescue services for treatment. Police said critically wounded Saad was later taken to the Aga Khan Hospital, where he died during treatment.

Police said Saad Ahmed was a resident of Phool Wali Gali, Gulbahar. He was going home after delivering food to his brother, who was sitting in Aitikaf in a mosque, when he was hit by a bullet.

Police handed over the victim’s body to the family following medico-legal formalities.

Saad’s funeral prayer was offered at Ghausia Masjid and he was buried in the Khajji ground graveyard.

Sajid Hussain’s funeral prayer was offered at Rizvia Society Imambargah on Wednesday afternoon, and he was buried in the Wadi-i-Hussain graveyard off the Superhighway.

The shops and markets remained closed in Rizvia Society and Gulbahar. All the shops and markets on the route to the graveyard were closed to avert any untoward incident and police and Rangers were deployed at different points.

Robbers kill man

A man was killed reportedly over resistance during a robbery in his home in Gulshan-i-Iqbal in the early hours of Wednesday.

Police said the incident took place in Kaneez Fatima Society within the remit of the Sachal police station.

Three bandits entered the home of Samee, 32, son Sallahuddin. As they tried to hold the occupants of the home at gunpoint, Samee resisted. The gunmen shot him in the chest and escaped, taking along some valuables and cash.

The SHO of the Sachal police station said the family had not lodged an FIR of the incident.

Taxi driver killed

A taxi driver was killed within the remit of the Gadap City police station on Wednesday.

Police said an abandoned taxicab (PL-4603) was found near Khator Mor close to the Malir hotel off the Superhighway.

They said the body of the driver, Naimat Gul, 40, was lying in the taxi.

They added that someone had apparently hired the taxi for Hyderabad, but killed the driver for reasons still unclear. The victim was a resident of Jannat Gul Town located near Al Asif Square.

Body found

The body of an unidentified man was found in the Korangi Industrial Area on Wednesday evening.

Police said the body was spotted near the Jam Sadiq Ali bridge within the remit of the KIA police station.

They shifted the body to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medico-legal formalities.

They said the body bore some marks, but it was not clear if they were from torture.