KARACHI, May 28: A police superintendent who had played an active role in the Karachi Operation and a doctor friend of his were shot dead in a gun attack in Korangi, while seven people were killed in other parts of the metropolis on Monday.

SP Shah Mohammad and Dr Dilshad were targeted outside his clinic in Bengali Para, Korangi No 3 ½. The lone security guard of the SP, constable Riaz, also sustained gunshot wounds in the attack and was rushed to a hospital.

“Shah Mohammad was perhaps the first SP-rank officer killed in Karachi’s recent history,” said DIG Admin Khalid Sheikh.

Earlier, DSP Nawaz Ranjha had been gunned down on M.A. Jinnah Road in August 2010.

“Dr Dilshad had come out of his clinic to see off SP Shah Mohammad when armed men riding motorcycles arrived there and fired gunshots before speeding away,” said SDPO Qasim Ghauri.

The police quoted the wounded gunman as saying that four to six suspects riding motorbikes took part in the attack.

“The SP was shot dead at point-blank range,” AIG Operations Naeem Ahmed Shaikh told Dawn. “He was shot seven times with a 9mm pistol.”

The doctor sustained four gunshot wounds, the police said, adding that all the three victims were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. The SP was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital, while Dr Dilshad died during treatment. Constable Riaz was still under treatment at the JPMC, said the officials.

Inspector general of police Mushtaq Shah, meanwhile, reached the crime-scene and while talking to the media described the incident as a targeted killing.

He said: “We are trying to probe the motive behind the murders. It can be a result of the victim’s participation in Karachi Operation as he was Gulberg SHO during the 1990s operation.”

The police investigators told Dawn that Dr Dilshad was a close friend of the SP who used to visit him often spending two to three hours at his clinic. On Monday, too, the officer arrived at his clinic and after sitting there for some time he was about to sit in his official jeep bearing registration number (SP-1235) when he was targeted, said SDPO Ghauri.

Shah Mohammad was presently working as SP (administration) in the east zone of the police.

“During the Karachi Operation, he was posted at the Gulberg and Taimuria police stations as the station house officer,” recalled a senior police officer having same reputation.

The slain SP was also nominated in a second FIR lodged at the Gulberg police station in connection with the killing of Altaf Hussain’s brother, Nasir Hussain, and his nephew, Arif Hussain.

The first FIR was lodged at the Gadap police station in 1995 after the two bodies were found there. Then in 1997, a second FIR (130/1997) was lodged at the Gulberg police station on a complaint of Shoaib Bukhari, a member of the MQM coordination committee, under Sections 302, 364-A, 109 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code against six persons — Pakistan People’s Party slain chairperson Benazir Bhutto, former chief minister of Sindh late Abdullah Shah, former federal interior minister late Major General (retd) Nasirullah Khan Babar, the then SHO Rao Anwar Ahmed Khan (now SP), the then SHO Shah Mohammad (now SP) and SI Ahmed Shah.

The deceased SP had five children and a wife in Punjab. He recently contracted his second marriage with a woman, Kaneez Fatima, a resident of Gulistan-i-Jauhar.

The deceased served at various police stations and in police zones and was promoted to the rank of SP only two months ago.

Two activists shot dead

Two activists of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, formerly known as the Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan, were gunned down in the Zia Colony area of Gulshan-i-Iqbal on Monday night, police said.

Gulshan SP Salam Shaikh said that Mufti Zeeshan and Danish were going on a motorbike to attend a lecture in Zia Colony when they were killed in a drive-by shooting. They sustained gunshot wounds to their head and chest. Both were rushed to nearby Patel Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival, the police said, adding that the bodies were later shifted to the JPMC for a post-mortem examination.

SP Shaikh described the incident as an act of targeted killing.

Police investigators collected several spent bullet casings of 9mm pistol from the crime scene.

Following the killing, some protesters hurled stones at passing vehicles. They also fired into the air and set fire to tyres blocking the traffic.

Similar scenes were witnessed at Aisha Manzil, Hasan Square and Nagan Chowrangi, where intermittent gunfire compelled traders to pull down shutters.

Homeopathic doctor killed

Late Monday night, a homeopathic doctor was gunned down in Orangi Town, police said.

They added that Tariq Shams, a resident of Tauheed Colony, was gunned down in Millat Colony on his way home.

The officials quoted some passers-by as saying that one of the three men riding a motorbike fired at him, leaving him dead on the spot.

The police later collected a spent bullet casing of 9mm pistol from the scene.

In a statement, the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association condemned the killing of Dr Shams and described the city’s law and order situation as pathetic.

Transvestite shot dead

Earlier, a transvestite was gunned down at his home near Mohammadi mosque in Jutland Lines on Monday morning.

An official at the Brigade police station quoted area residents as saying that 45-year-old Siraj, son of Shams, had an altercation with someone before being killed.

The victim used to live alone, the official said, adding that some people entered the residence in the early hours and killed the transvestite before fleeing away.

He quoted area residents as saying that they had heard a hue and cry from Siraj’s home.

The police said the victim was a dancer and used to perform at wedding ceremonies and other occasions.

The body was shifted to the JPMC where his younger brother, Amir, received the body following medico-legal formalities.

The motive of the murder was yet to be ascertained, said the police investigators, adding that they had registered an FIR (134/2012) against unidentified men on a complaint of Amir.

Body found in Korangi

The body of a 24-year-old man was found from bushed behind the government degree college in Korangi No 6 on Monday morning.

Saeed Gul aka Afghani was kidnapped before being killed, said an official at the Awami Colony police station.

The official said the victim was trussed up and shot in the head.

The body was shifted to the JPMC for medico-legal formalities and later moved to the Edhi morgue.

The police later registered an FIR (185/2012) against unidentified men on behalf of the state.

Trader killed in Clifton

A young trader who was shot at near the Clifton underpass died at a hospital late Monday night.

Adnan Rafiq was shot four times near Mehran shopping centre in Clifton block 8, said an official at the Clifton police station.

He was rushed to the JPMC where he died during treatment, said Clifton SHO Asif Jakhrani.

“The victim was a resident of Delhi Colony Clifton and had a garment shop in Clifton.”

The police picked up his friend, Sami, for interrogation following the incident.

Man shot dead in Kharadar

A young man was shot dead near Jodia Bazaar within the remit of the Kharadar police station.

Imran, son of Fateh Mohammad, was targeted on Napier Road, said DSP Zafar Ali Shah.

He added that the victim was an area resident and was nominated in a murder case.

The body was shifted to the Civil Hospital Karachi and handed over to the victim’s heirs after medico-legal formalities.