KARACHI, June 15: At least a dozen more people were gunned down on Friday in different parts of the city just a day after six people, including a Muttahida Qaumi Movement activist and a trader, had been shot dead in separate incidents of firing mainly in southern and western districts of the metropolis.

With the fresh wave of killings, the number of people murdered during the week has reached 40.

When Additional IG Karachi Akhtar Hussain Ghorchani was contacted for his version about the spate of killings, he said he had been on a leave of absence since Friday afternoon and the additional inspector-general of CID had the charge. Additional IG CID Shabbir Shaikh was not available for comments.

On Friday, a close relative of a man wanted by police in cases pertaining to the killing of MQM workers was shot dead near his home in PIB Colony, officials said.

They added that Pir Daad, 45, a maternal uncle of Ahmed Ali Magsi, was in his car when four to six gunmen riding motorbikes in the Baloch Para area fired at him and sped away.

According to the police, Magsi was nominated in the case pertaining to the murder of MQM PIB Colony sector committee member Mansoor Mukhtar and his brother on March 27, 2012.

Pir Daad sustained gunshot wounds to the head and leg and was rushed to a private hospital on Stadium Road, where he died during treatment, said an official at the PIB Colony police station. He added that the body was later shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medico-legal formalities.

Police investigators said that AK-47 rifle and 9mm pistol were used in the attack.

Following the shooting, panic and fear gripped the locality compelling traders to pull down shutters. Heavy contingents of Rangers and police rushed to PIB Colony to avert violence as a backlash to the killing was feared.

Three killed in Garden

Three young men were killed in separate acts of firing within a span of a few hours within the remit of the Garden police station, officials said.

The Garden SHO, who was suspended following the drive-by shootings, described the attacks as part of ongoing targeted killings on ethnic grounds.

Ayub Baloch, 27, and his friend, Nadeem Baloch, 30, sustained gunshot wounds in firing on their car near Gilani Masjid on Ghulam Hussain Qasim Road, the police said.

Both were taken to the Civil Hospital Karachi, where Ayub Baloch died during treatment, the officials added.

Garden SHO Mutahir Hussain said both victims hailed from Balochistan and had arrived to visit their relatives in the city.

Within the remit of the same police station, Razzak Baloch, son of Ata Mohammad Baloch, was targeted in firing at his carom club in Hassan Lashkari Village.

The victim was rushed to the Civil Hospital Karachi where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

In yet another gun attack, an unidentified man was shot dead on Nishtar Road within the remit of the Garden police station. The police shifted the body to the Edhi morgue for want of identification following medico-legal formalities at the CHK.

Man found shot dead

Another unidentified man was found shot dead in Dhobi Ghat, Pak Colony, police said.

They added that the victim had been trussed up before being shot in the head. The body was shifted to the CHK for medico-legal formalities.

Later, the body was moved to the Edhi morgue for want of identification.

Policeman killed

Earlier in the morning, a policeman was shot dead in Pathan Colony within the remit of the Site-A police station.

Police constable Abdul Qayyum, 45, was sitting with his neighbour, Omar Bahadur, 23, outside their home during to a power breakdown when they were targeted. The constable was killed and his neighbour, Omar Bahadur, 23, wounded in the attack.

The victim was posted at the Site-A police station.

Labourer shot dead

A labourer was killed in a drive-by shooting at a bus stop in Orangi Town, police said.

They added that Shuajat Fazal, 45, was at a bus stop in Bijli Nagar when two gunmen riding a motorcycle came close to him, shot him dead and sped away.

Mominabad SHO Nasir Mehmood said that the victim had arrived from his hometown Swat around two months ago and used to work as a labourer.

Police suspected personal enmity as a possible motive for the killing.

Protest after killing

A number of people staged a protest demonstration on Jehnagir Road following the killing of a young man in the area, police said.

Asif Baloch was shot dead near his home on Jehnagir Road in the early hours of Friday, said Jamshed Quarters SHO Khushnood Javed.

He said initial investigation showed that the deceased was a drug-peddler and had a criminal record.

Angry people staged a protest demonstration over the killing on Jahangir Road, the police said, claiming that they reached the spot and managed to disperse the crowd.

Man killed in Liaquatabad

A young pedestrian was shot dead in a drive-by shooting in Liaquatabad, police said.

They added that Saleem Khan was shot at by armed men riding a motorbike in Liaquatabad No 8. The victim was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The police said that the motive for the killing could be ascertained immediately.

Wounded engineer dies

A divisional engineer of the Lyari Telephone Exchange, who was shot at outside the telephone exchange, died during treatment at the Civil Hospital on Friday.

Syed Abbas Ali Zaidi, 40, and Sagheer Kareem were wounded in firing outside the telephone exchange near Lea Market, said an official at the Kalakot police station.

Sanitary worker killed

A sanitary worker was shot dead at the doorstep of his home in Khori Garden in what police sources described as a case of mistaken identity.

Sunny, 25, son of Shankar, was called out of his home and shot in the chest at point-blank range, said an official at the Kharadar police station.

“Actually another man with the same name is believed to be a member of the outlawed Amn Committee who lives in the same neighbourhood,” disclosed an area police officer after initial investigation.

The police shifted the victim to the CHK, where he died during treatment.

SHO Agha Asadullah quoted the victim’s family as saying that someone had called him at the door and shortly afterwards they heard a gunshot.

Man shot dead in Korangi

A young man was shot dead in Sector 36-C of Korangi 6 within the remit of the Awami Colony police station, said officials.

They added that Mirza Adeel Baig sustained two gunshot wounds and died on the spot. The body was shifted to the JPMC for medico-legal formalities.

The victim had no political affiliation, the police added.