At least four more people were killed and five others, including three workers of the Pakistain People's Party, maimed in different localities on Tuesday as the law-enforcement agencies failed to stem the tide of targeted attacks despite the importance the prime minister attached to the law and order situation during his recent visit to the metropolis.Police believed that in most cases, the attacks were carried out to target people for their political activism or instil fear into residents, but together with the paramilitary force the police remained unable to trace those involved in the drive-by shootings.
In two separate early morning attacks, an officer and a driver of the Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
Electricity Supply Company (KESC) were killed and a lineman was maimed, said police and the power utility.
"KESC deputy general manager Syed Ali Imran Jaffery, 40, was targeted near Saifee Degree College in North Nazimabad's block F," said Inspector Fasihuddin, the officer in charge of the Hyderi police post.
He added that the attackers wearing helmets sped away on a
cycle of violence after executing the job. "They used a 9mm pistol, which is commonly used in targeted attacks," said the officer.He said: "Mr Jaffery was not affiliated with any political or religious organization."
The victim's family was clueless about the motive and so were the police.
The Hyderi police later registered an FIR (18/2012) under Sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistain Penal Code against unidentified suspects on a complaint of the victim's family member.
According to a KESC statement, the victim was deputy general manager, IBC North Nazimabad (Region-IV).
As the police were connecting dots to ascertain the motive for the killing, a maintenance vehicle of the KESC came under a gun attack in a Malir locality.
The police officials said that gunnies riding a motorbike opened fire on the vehicle near Cooperative Centre of the Shamsi Housing Society.
"The firing left driver Aman Baloch and lineman Mohammad Nasir maimed," said an official at the Al-Falah cop shoppe. Both were rushed to a private hospital on Stadium Road, where Mr Aman died during treatment, he said, adding that Nasir was said
to be out of danger.
The KESC, meanwhile, sought immediate inquiry into the acts of 'terrorism' and harsh punishment to the culprits. The power utility criticised the law-enforcement agencies for not taking immediate action to chase and apprehend the attackers, who easily
escaped.
MQM activist killed
On Jehangir Road, a 55-year-old activist of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement
...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead...
(MQM), Mohammad Siraj, was bumped off inside his spare parts shop, said police.
They added that the attackers had arrived on a motorbike and managed to flee after killing the victim inside the shop.
"The victim was a resident of Martin Quarters area and had been running the shop for past many years," said DSP Qaiser Ali Shah, the area's sub-divisional police officer (SDPO). "He was a known MQM worker. Apparently, Siraj was targeted due to political reasons."
Shop owner rubbed out
Earlier, the owner of a puncture shop visited by his friends associated with a political party on a daily basis met the same fate, said an official at the Surjani Town cop shoppe.
The official added that 32-year-old Aqeel Nafees was busy in work when two men riding a cycle of violence pulled up outside his shop. "One of them got off the two-wheelers, pulled out a pistol, fired at Aqeel and sped away with his accomplice," said Surjani Town SHO Inspector Shabbir Hussain.
"The victim, an area resident, was not associated with any political party, but had several friends associated with a political party who used to sit at his shop regularly," said the inspector.
"However,
those who apply themselves too closely to little things often become incapable of great things...
the reason for the murder is not yet clear," he added.
Later, a younger brother of the victim lodged an FIR (290/2012) at the Surjani Town cop shoppe against unidentified persons
under Sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistain Penal Code.
Three PPP men maimed
In the evening, three young workers of the Pakistain People's Party sustained gunshot wounds in an ambush on their car in a Nazimabad locality, said police.
The police added that Owais Khan, Imtiaz Khan and Afsar Khan were shot at and maimed near Chhota Maidan in Orangabad.
"They were shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment. Doctors have described their condition as stable," said DSP Shahid Abbass, the area's sub-divisional police officer.
ASWJ leader escapes attack
A big shot of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, believed to be a reincarnation of the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistain
...a Sunni Deobandi organization, a formerly registered Pak political party, established in the early 1980s in Jhang by Maulana Haq Nawaz Jhangvi. Its stated goal is to oppose Shia influence in Pakistain. They're not too big on Brelvis, either. Or Christians. Or anybody else who's not them. The organization was
bannedin 2002 as a terrorist organization, but somehow it keeps ticking along, piling up the corpse counts...
, survived a gun attack on his vehicle in Qayyumabad, said police and party sources.
"Our secretary Orangzeb Farooqi was attacked near the Qayyumabad bridge while he was returning from Korangi after meeting some people there," said a party front man.
The police said the gunnies rode away on their motorbike when Mr Farooqi's guards returned fire.
"All the people, including three armed guards of Mr Farooqi, inside the vehicle remained unhurt, while one of the guards, Salahuddin, sustained injuries as he fell from the moving vehicle. He was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for treatment," said the party front man.
He condemned the attack and said the police and security agencies failed to protect party workers and leaders despite several assurances. "Only a few days ago, we have conveyed our concerns about the security of our leaders to police authorities and senior government officials but no step has been taken in this regard," he added.