Man killed, brother hurt by ‘portion mafia’

A man was gunned down and his brother wounded while they attempted to stop the “portion mafia” from installing an “illegal” water connection in District Central of Karachi late onSunday night.

Two groups clashed with each other over installing a water line in Nazimabad No. 3. The Nazimabad police said that one group was installing a water line, while the deceased was trying to stop them.

The casualties were taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where the deceased was identified as Asimur Rehman, 45, and the injured as Naveed and Shoaib. Police said Naveed is the brother of the deceased, while Shoaib is associated with the rival group. The deceased was the father of two sons and as many daughters, and was a goldsmith by profession.

Naveed told the police that a water line was being illegally installed in the area, so when the residents objected, builders Nauman and Ovais, and their father Mubarak started quarrelling with them. He said thebuilders came armed, with several accomplices, adding that the suspects fired at the locals, killing his brother and injuring him. He also said Asim was hit in the head while trying to protect him.

He claimed that Shoaib is an associate of the builders and was injured by his own bullet. He said the suspects then fled the scene, leaving behind five motorbikes. Police said the builders’ father, who runs a real estate agency, was arrested red-handed, while his sons Nauman and Ovais made their escape, along with their accomplices.

The CCTV camera footage obtained by the police shows the fight between the builders and the residents, during which shots are fired. The video clip shows them fighting for quite some time before shots are fired suddenly, then the builders and his accomplices flee from the scene.

The Nazimabad police registered a case on Naveed’s complaint and arrested Mubarak. Nauman and Ovais are nominated in the FIR as the key suspects. They are also accused of having a political party’s backing, and engaging in illegal constructions in the area. Mubarak claimed in his video statement that he was sleeping at home when he received information that his sons were being assaulted. He said that when he arrived, 25 to 30 people were present there and were assaulting his sons.

He claimed that Asim’s associates grabbed him and subjected him to violence too. He said the police arrived on the scene and saved his life. “We have no connection to the water line. I don’t know where my sons Nauman and Ovais are.”