Former Karachi councillor, two sons among four dead in targeted killing

JULY 9 - A senior member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and former councillor of Landhi No 4 with his two sons and a pedestrian were killed when unidentified armed men opened indiscriminate fire on them at Zaman Town within the limits of Landhi police station.

Also today, a MQM-Haqiqi man Nadeem, 32, son of Nazir was gunned down at a furniture market in Liaquatabad No 4 within the limits of Sharifabad police station.

MQM-H (Amir Khan Group) Information Secretary Feroz Haider said the victim had been a former member of MQM-H and was associated with Unit 162, Liaquatabad. However, Haider added that the deceased had tendered an apology to a rival party and was allowed to live in the area.

Police have termed both incidents as part of the ongoing target killings of political workers.

Landhi police sources said Muttahida leader Haji Jalal, 65, was sitting outside a carrom board shop with his two sons, Abdullah Jalal and Usman Jalal when the assailants riding on two motorcycles reached there and sprayed them with bullets.

A passer-by Suhail also sustained serious bullet injuries.

All the four injured were rushed to JPMC where they succumbed to their injuries during the treatment.

Jalal was elected a counsellor of Landhi 4 in 1987, and was a renowned leader of the MQM. Jalal had been detained in Central Jail Karachi for several years in the case of Major Kaleem, reported Daily Times.

Following the incident, tension gripped Landhi, where armed men forced shopkeepers to pull down shutters.

Intermittent firing was also heard in the area.