One killed, three hurt in Karachi sectarian attacks

KARACHI: Terrorists carried out late-night attacks on members of the Shia community in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Gulistan-e-Jauhar, killing a trustee of an Imambargah and wounding three other people.

Mansoor Zaidi, 55, a trustee of Zainul Abideen Imambargah, and his son Ammar Zaidi were injured when attackers sprayed them with bullets near a house in the Gul Hassan Society, Block 8, Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

After being called to the scene, police took the victims to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), where Mansoor Zaidi was pronounced dead.Police said Zaidi, who was also the secretary of a private school management and owner of Mehran Public School, and his son were standing outside their house when two gunmen riding a motorcycle pulled over and one of them fired multiple shots at them. The father suffered fatal wounds to his upper torso.

While the police were still busy investigating the shooting, terrorists carried out an attack, injuring two men, Syed Jawwad Raza and Syed Adeel Abbas, near the Disco Bakery in Block 3 of Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

Station House Officer (SHO) Safdar Mashwani of Gulshan Police Station said the police transported the injured to a private hospital. He said the two men, along with a number of other people, were going home after attending a majlis at a house when two gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire on them and escaped.

The SHO said the victims, who were stated to be in stable condition, were residents of the same area and belonged to the Shia community. Investigators termed the shooting a targeted attack.

Concerned over the law and order situation in the city, the provincial government announced a ban on motorcycle pillion riding from 6pm on Saturday till the 11th of Muharram.Sindh IGP AD Khowaja took notice of the firing incidents and ordered the arrest of culprits. He sought a detailed report from the DIG East.

He also told all police stations to ensure effective security for the Imambargah and majalis, besides carrying out patrolling and snap checking. He directed the police officials to expedite intelligence surveillance against criminal elements.

The Sindh Rangers announced that a high alert had been issued to ensure security during the Ashura.A press release issued by the paramilitary force said all citizens should carry on them their national identification cards and the necessary documents of their vehicles, which would be examined during snap checking.