KARACHI, March 18: A local leader of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mohaz was gunned down on Tuesday in Korangi, police and witnesses said.

They said tension and panic gripped Chakra Goth following the killing of Dil Murad alias Dilber Mirani, who had been released from jail only four days ago.

City president of JSQM Illahi Bux Bikak told Dawn that Dil Murad was the party president in Chakra Goth and he was going to visit his mother in the neighbouring Altaf Town when two motorcyclists targeted him.

Witnesses said the man died on the spot and his body was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre before the police arrived there.

Zaman Town police said the victim’s family members and residents of Chakra Goth staged a demonstration following the incident.

Witnesses said the vicinity wore a deserted look as shopkeepers pulled down their shutters and traffic disappeared from the streets following the incident and the subsequent protest.

The JSQM city chief condemned the incident and said the killing of the party worker was aimed at fanning ethnic strife in the city. “We have asked our workers to remain calm as we don’t want to disturb the peace in the city,” he added.

He said the party’s central chairman, Bashir Ahmed Qureshi, would attend the funeral of the slain party worker on Wednesday at Chakra Goth.

Guard killed

A private security guard at a cellular phone shop in North Nazimabad was shot dead during a bungled robbery.

Police said two bandits came to the mobile phone shop around 2pm. They said guard Dost Mohammed Baloch struggled with the intruders, who fired gunshots, killing him instantly.

They said the dacoits also took away the victim’s rifle.

Road tragedy

Two motorcyclists were crushed to death by a water tanker in Baldia Town.

The bodies of Faisal, son of Baseer, 18, and Abdullah, son of Amir, 24, both residents of Baldia Town, were taken to the Civil Hospital Karachi.

The water tanker driver fled.