HYDERABAD, June 16: A quarrel caused by alleged erasure of graffiti of one political group by their rivals claimed the life of an activist of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) and left two injured late on Friday.
According to the JSQM, the dispute arose over the replacement of JSQM graffiti with a panaflex of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Al Waheed Colony, an MQM stronghold.
The dead man was identified as Mujahid Tunio of Ratedero while Ghulam Mustafa Panhwar and Kamran Solangi were injured.
Police registered a case against five political workers.
Dr Niaz Kalani, acting chairman of the JSQM, told Dawn that some wall chalking done by workers of his party was covered by MQM supporters with a panaflex.
“While we were trying to sort out matters, one of our activists was gunned down by the MQM people,” he alleged.
Mohammad Sharif, MQM’s zonal organiser, said people living in Al Waheed Colony had put up the panaflex for a flag-hoisting ceremony.
“As we were negotiating the matter with Dr Kalani (the JSQM chief), a boy was hit by a motorcycle of a JSQM man. This sparked a clash, causing death and injuries,” he said.
Activists of the JSQM held a demonstration outside the press club, calling for arrest of Mujahid Tunio’s killers.
Trader shot dead
A young trader was shot dead in what is suspected to be an incident of targeted killing on the Bailkhana road here on Saturday.
Two motorcyclists came to the shop of Zubair Lodhi, son of Islamuddin, and shot at him at point blank range. He died on the spot, but people took him to hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.
Zubair, who was the resident of Latifabad Unit-6, dealt in oilcake and oil. His family members avoided talking to reporters.
Shopkeepers closed their business in protest in the adjacent Anaj Mandi, Ghas Mandi, Timber Market and Tower Market. They burnt tyres in the area, suspending normal flow of vehicular traffic.
President of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) Goharullah told Dawn that that Islamuddin owned an oil mill in the area.
He said he believed that the trader had been receiving threats for extortion and refusing to pay.
He said that according to information received by him, a man pretending to be a customer arrived at the shop and asked for samples. In the meantime, two motorcyclists reached there and targeted Zubair.
The HCCI chief met traders in the market and expressed concern over rising incidents of crime. He talked to the SSP of Hyderabad, urged him to take steps to restore law and order, offering cooperation of the business community.
No FIR was lodged till filing of the report.
In another incident, a 48-year-old man was shot dead near the shrine of Shah Bukhari while returning from Mirpurkhas Naka.
The man was a dispenser at the Liaquat University Hospital’s Jamshoro branch and was going home when he was targeted.