Karachi: More political killings as 3 Haqiqi men slain

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Faraz Khan
KARACHI: The target killing of political workers continued in the city on Tuesday as three more activists of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H) were murdered in separate incidents, taking the death toll in such killings in the last eight days to 38.

Four culprits on two motorbikes targeted two MQM-H workers, Tariq, 32 and Wahid, 35. The incident took place outside Tariq’s house at Gulshan-e-Iqbal near Aladdin Park within the limits of Aziz Bhatti police station. Tariq was sitting in his car with Wahid when the culprits showed up and opened indiscriminate firing on them. According to DSP Ghulam Hussain Korai, a kalashnikov and TT pistols were used in the killing. The official further said that deceased Tariq was a former Muthidda Qaumi Movement sector in-charge of Gulistan-e-Jauhar while Wahid was a sector member.

“Both men were dismissed over some issue and later they joined the MQM-H. The deceased were also wanted by the police in cases including the killing of four MQM workers in Gulistan-e-Jauhar in 2004 as well as the attack on Rangers’ personnel in the Sharah-e-Faisal police limits during last elections,” DSP Korai added. Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered on the complaint of Tariq’s brother.

In another incident, Ali Abbas, 30, was gunned down near Al-Azam Square within the limits of Sharifabad police station. The victim used to work at a local factory and was a former activist of MQM-H. The incident took place while he was playing carrom board at a shop.

Interestingly, all targeted killings involve use of motorcycles with pillion riding killers. This is despite the fact that the Sindh Home Department has imposed a ban on pillion riding for the last few months. The measure has failed to yield any result.

It has been learnt that since the Sindh home department has warned police officials of suspension if political killings are reported in their respective jurisdictions, the police is now hiding the true nature of the killings and labelling political killings as murders in robbery cases or due to personal enmity.

MQM-H Co-Chairman Shamshad Khan Ghauri while talking to Daily Times said that over 20 of their party workers including a woman have been gunned down in a week but instead of arresting the killers, police has started an unannounced crackdown on Haqiqi members, with over a dozen members arrested.

The Sindh home minister on Tuesday told the media that some 40 persons involved in target killings have been arrested and their identities will be soon made public.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg12_1