Three killed in continued Karachi target killings

JULY 15 - A 57-year-old councillor of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was shot dead in an attack near his home in Ramaswami on Tuesday.

Unidentified men shot dead 57-year-old Sirajuddin at Hoti Market in Ranchore Lane, in the Nabi Buksh police precincts. Station House Officer (SHO) Wasim Ahmed said the deceased was the general councillor of UC-6 in Saddar Town, and was associated with the MQM.

Witnesses said the victim, Sirajuddin, son of Nizamuddin, was standing at a shop on Hakim Qazi Yaseen Road, near Hoti Market, in the remit of the Nabi Bux police when at around 5.30pm three gunmen on two motorcycles sprayed him with bullets.

The witnesses said that two of the assailants, who wore helmets, opened fire on the victim, the father of six daughters and two sons. They said the attackers rode away after their swift operation as people ran for shelter after the shooting.

Separately, two men who owned separate private schools in Orangi Town were gunned down in targeted killing in Baldia Town No 9 in the Saeedabad police precincts. The victims were identified as Fawad and Allah Wasaiyo.

Suspecting that the cause behind the murders could be personal enmity, SHO Zahid Hussain Soomro said the victims were not affiliated with any political party.

Rehman Malik says target killings won’t be tolerated

Target killings in Karachi will not be tolerated and stern action will be taken against anyone implicated in the act, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Tuesday.

He said this while talking to the media after meeting with Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad at Governor’s House.

Responding to a question, Malik said the Sindh governor was not being replaced. “Ishratul Ebad is standing next to me and he will remain the governor,” he said.

The governor said the government had taken effective measures in the last three days to stop target killings in the city. He said that President Asif Ali Zardari and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain were in contact and agreed that strict measures were needed for safeguarding the people.

Commission set up: Separately, talking to a private TV channel, Malik said that President Asif Ali Zardari had taken notice of the target killings in Karachi and had set up a judicial commission to investigate the matter.

Malik also called on Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah at Chief Minister’s House, where Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza was also present.

Addressing a press conference at the CM House, Malik said the number of Rangers and police in the city had been increased to control the situation. He said the families of victims of target killings would be given plots and opportunities to work in the police force.

The minister said the MQM chief had assured him of his complete cooperation in this regard.

Malik urged the community at large to use their mobile phones and make a video of any target killings that they witnessed, sending the same to the Interior Ministry.

Reward: He added that if the video evidence proved to be accurate, the person who sent the video would be rewarded Rs 500,000.

He said the government was not conducting any operations in Karachi and it had only made some security arrangements.