Three fall victim to target killing

Published February 28, 2003

KARACHI, Feb 27: A coffee house-cum-bakery owner and his nephew, both of Iranian origin, were shot dead here on Thursday night at M. A. Jinnah Road.

Police said three young men riding a motorcycle came to Subhanallah Coffee House and Bakery, situated opposite the former Lighthouse Cinema, at around 8:35pm. One of them went inside and opened fire on Ghulam Husain, 45, and Baqar Raza, 26, and fled with the two others on the bike. Both the victims were sitting on the cash counter.

Ghulam Husain and Baqar Raza were rushed to Civil Hospital where doctors pronounced them dead.

Hospital sources said that both men had suffered multiple bullet injuries to their heads and chests.

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Asad Ashraf Malik told Dawn that two salesmen were also present in the bakery with the victims at the time of attack, but assailants targeted only the uncle and his nephew. They did not even touch the cash lying on the counter, the CCPO said and described the incident as target killing.

Meanwhile, in Jauharabad, F.B. Area, a young man was shot dead on Thursday night.

Police said Mohammed Saleem Shahzad, 35, owner of a public call office near Ayub Manzil, was sitting at his shop when two unidentified men riding a motorcycle came, opened fire on him and fled.

Saleem was rushed to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where he died.

Quoting the area people, the police said he was affiliated with a religious organisation.