Two PSP workers killed, two injured in Karachi drive-by shooting

KARACHI: A drive-by shooting resulted in four casualties Sunday night in the metropolis' Gulbahar locality when assailants on motorcycles opened fire on the Pak Sarzameen Party's (PSP) office.

Two political workers died and two others were wounded as six unidentified suspects on three bikes shot at the PSP's local town office in Usmania Colony, highlighting that target-killing is once again on the rise after a brief period of peace.

The deceased — identified as Naeem and Azhar — succumbed to their injuries during medical treatment after they were rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

As news of the shooting spread, a heavy contingent of security personnel, including police and Rangers officials, reached the crime scene, and Mustafa Kamal, the party chairperson, arrived at the hospital.

Speaking to the media later, Kamal said: "The blood of these workers is on the hands of those who created the new MQM [Muttahida Qaumi Movement]."

However, Dr Muhamamd Amin Yousufzai, the deputy inspector-general (DIG) of police for the West Zone, said it would be premature to make any comments about the suspects involved in the incident.

It is noteworthy that two terrorists, who belonged to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London (MQM-L) and were arrested by Rangers, had confessed during questioning to planning an attack on Azhar, one of the two party workers who died in last night's attack.

On the other hand, Governor of Sindh Imran Ismail, as well as MQM-Pakistan chief Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui strongly condemned the fatal incident.

The additional IG for Karachi, Dr Amir Ahmed Shaikh, took notice of the incident and consequently summoned a detailed report from Muhammad Arif Aslam, the senior superintendent of police (SSP) for the Central district.