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Friday April 26, 2024

High court lawyer gunned down

IGP forms special investigation team; KBA members to boycott courts today

By our correspondents
August 29, 2015
Karachi
A former joint secretary of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA), Advocate Amir Hyder Shah, was gunned down by unidentified attackers near the Civic Centre on Friday.
According to SSP East Jawed Jiskani, 37-year-old Shah was on his way home from his office near Tariq Road, when three men attacked his vehicle, bearing registration number APR-402, as soon as it crossed the Hassan Square bridge on the main University road.
Shah, a lawyer at the Sindh High Court, reported to have been hit by several bullets, was accompanied by his assistant Shahid Ali Chandio who remained unhurt in the attack.
Police officials had later sealed the crime scene and recovered four empty bullet casings from the spot; two were of a 9mm pistol while the other two were of 30 bore pistol.
SSP Jiskani said Shah was fighting several cases related to land grabbing while some were of political nature in the anti-terrorism court (ATC). He hailed from district Khairpur.
The SSP claimed that an FIR would soon be registered whereas investigations will be carried out by senior police officials not less than the grade of an SP.
A clear CCTV footage of the attack was also claimed to have been obtained. Whereas claims of an eye witness having confirmed one of the motorcycle’s registration number were also made; the certainty of it being a fake number plate was, however, not ruled out.

Probe committee formed
Following the attack Sindh Inspector General of Police Ghulam Hyder Jamali constituted a special investigation team under the supervision of Additional Inspector General, Karachi Mushtaq Mahar, to further probe the murder. Immediate investigation orders were given whereas a preliminary report of the attack was asked to be submitted within 24 hours.
Counter Terrorism Department DIG, DIG East, SSP East and SSP East Investigation were chosen for the committee. IG Sindh has issued directive to immediately start the investigation process and submit preliminary report within 24 hours.
KBA announces boycott
The KBA, later in the evening announced to boycott courts proceedings today, in protest of their colleague’s murder.
Strongly condemning the act of violence, the association issued a statement expressed shock over Shah’s murder and claimed the incident had saddened the entire fraternity. Shah had served as joint secretary of the association in 2014.

MQM worker killed
Aftab Ahmed, an activist of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, was shot dead by unidentified attackers near the Sakhi Hasan Chowrangi. Police officials said the victim was in his car when the vehicle came under attack on Qalandria Road. He was rushed to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment but, unfortunately, could not survive.