Trader shot dead in Timber Market target killing

A trader was shot dead in an apparent incident of target killing in the Timber Market in the Old City area of Karachi on Wednesday.

The deceased trader was identified as Shahzad Jafarani, a resident of the Bahadurabad area. The incident occurred when unidentified assailants opened fire on him at his shop in the Timber Market within the jurisdiction of the Napier police station, killing him on the spot.

The casualty was taken to the Civil Hospital, Karachi. Quoting the witnesses, police said the assailants parked their motorcycle outside the trader’s shop in Timber Market and then targeted and killed him before fleeing.

Police said they did not receive any complaint regarding extortion and they had also approached the market’s association president, shopkeepers as well as family members to get help in the investigation.

Following the incident, police also approached the traders and shopkeepers of the Iron Market about to get details regarding extortion threats to traders and shopkeepers in the markets; however, they claimed that they did not receive any information about extortion demands.

According to police, three persons were present in the shop where the incident occurred. The perpetrators targeted only Shahzad, as confirmed by police. Police said they were conducting thorough investigations from every angle to ascertain the motives behind the incident.

Meanwhile, the Timber Market Association president, Sharjeel Goplani, said two armed assailants on a 125cc motorcycle approached and targeted the trader who was associated with the timber business.

The victim was a resident of the Bahadurabad area, Goplani said, adding that the assailants also fired shots while leaving. Police said they immediately reached the crime scene after getting information about the incident. No case had been registered till the filing of this news story.