KARACHI, Sept 4: A man was set on fire by unknown persons in Landhi on Sunday evening.

Police said that they trussed up the young man, later identified as Nadeem Soomro, 29, and dumped him on a vacant plot in the 100-Quarters area of Landhi, before sprinkling petrol on him.

The suspects fled the scene after setting him alight.

A passerby informed the rescue services whose personnel rushed to the scene and took the victim to the Civil Hospital, where he was admitted to the burns ward. His condition was stated to be critical.

A doctor at the ward told the media that the victim had suffered 95 per cent burns. The police said that the victim’s brother, Naeem Soomro, had informed the police about Nadeem’s abduction on Saturday.

SP Haseeb Baig, quoting the victim’s family, told Dawn that Nadeem lived in 89/7, Chiragh Hotel, Landhi, and was kidnapped two days back. The family claimed that the victim had been subjected to torture during the captivity and was finally set on fire.

“We are waiting for the victim’s statement following which an FIR will be lodged and suspects identified by the family picked up,” the SP said.

He said that a motive behind the incident was not clear but it seemed to be very personal.

Activist succumbs to wounds

A political activist who was injured in firing late Saturday night in Lines Area succumbed to his wounds in a hospital on Sunday.

A duty officer at the Brigade police station said that Rehan, son of Manzoor, a resident of Lines Area, had suffered a gunshot wound after being attacked by unknown assailants near Dhobi Goth, Preedy Street.

The victim was rushed to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where he was admitted for treatment. On Sunday, he succumbed to his wounds during treatment, police said.

Police have registered an FIR (246/2011) under section 302-34 (premeditated murder with common intention) against unknown persons on the complaint of the victim’s father.

The deceased is stated to be an activist of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the police said.

Man shot dead

A young man was killed by unknown persons in Gulistan-i-Jauhar on Saturday night.

The police said that Abdul Kareem, 30, was sitting at a pan shop in Husain Hazara Goth when two suspects riding a motorcycle came and shot him.

The victim was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The police said that a motive behind the killing was not clear as yet.

The incident happened not far from the place where a newly-wed couple was shot dead by unknown persons on Friday night.

Drowned girl’s body

The body of a 12-year-old girl who was swept away by strong currents at the Sandspit beach on Friday washed ashore at the Clifton beach on Sunday night.

SP Tariq Dharejo said that the girl, Rida, 12, and several of her family members were enjoying a picnic at the Sandspit beach when they were swept away by strong currents. The life guards present at the beach managed to rescue the other family members but Rida and her paternal uncle, Irfan Mehmood, drowned. Rescuers had managed to fish out Mr Mehmood’s body.

The family lived in North Nazimabad.