Firing incidents in Karachi claim six lives

KARACHI: At least six people have been killed in separate firing incidents in the city on Friday.

Police said that unknown assailants on motorcycle opened fire in Patel Para, killing one man and injuring another in Patel Para. Later on, the injured of the incident succumbed to his wounds in a hospital.

At least three people have been killed near Shafiq Mor, according to Geo News. One person was injured in a firing incident in Hyderi, who later succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat (ASWJ) said the three people killed near Shafiq More were its activists, who were returning from Tahaffuz e Harmain rally. They were identified as Shahid, Yaqoob and Usman Haideri.

The two men targeted in Patel Para were identified as Abdul Baqi - a resident of Balochistan - and Ameen.

According to DIG Landhi, a man was targeted by assailants wearing helmets and shot in the head, although the bullet had brushed past his head.

He said that three injured in Shafiq Mor firing were being shifted to Abbasi Shaheed when they succumbed to injuries, adding that they were targeted by attackers armed with 9mm pistols. "It is a wave of terrorism that we will bring under control," he said.

'Perpetrators identified'

Additional IG Sindh Mushtaq Mahr has said the 'perpetrators have been identified' and that the police will soon crack down on them.

'Sectarian tensions'

On the other hand, investigating officials have revealed that victims in all the three incidents were targeted by the same group and with the same 9mm pistol. They found three shells from the site of incident in Patel Para, one from Hyderi, and five bullet shells from Shafiq More.

Officials said two days ago another man was shot dead using the same weapon in Karachi's Buffer Zone area. They said the incidents were an outcome of heightened sectarian tensions.

CM Sindh takes notice

Chief Minsiter Sindh Murad Ali Shah took notice of the firing incidents in Karachi. He telephoned Additional IG Karachi and Additional IG CTD following the attacks.

The CM asked that action be taken against miscreants involved in firing incidents.

According to a spokesman for Sindh government, CM Sindh offered condolences to the relatives of the deceased in Shafiq Mor firing incident.