KARACHI, July 19: At least seven people, including two policemen, were killed in the city and a police kiosk was attacked with a hand grenade on Thursday, when President Asif Ali Zardari and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief were present in the city.

A sub-inspector and a constable were killed and a passer-by was wounded when unknown assailants targeted the two policemen on Nishtar Road on Thursday night.

SI Munir Ahmed, 50, and constable Abdul Hafeez, 35, were reportedly riding a scooter from the Pak Colony police station, where they were posted. The unknown suspects, who were apparently following them, targeted the two at Albela Chowk, Nishtar Road, sub-divisional police officer Qasier Ali Shah said. “The incident is clearly a targeted killing,” the SDPO said.

A passer-by, identified as Javed, 30, was also injured in the firing. The three victims were rushed to the Civil Hospital Karachi, where the two policemen were pronounced dead on arrival, while the wounded man was admitted for treatment.

Quoting hospital sources, police said both policemen had suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the upper half of the body.

Police said both policemen were in civilian clothes and were heading home after work.

However, the motive for the killing was unclear and was being seen as part of a string of attacks against law-enforcement officials in the recent days in the city.

Earlier on Wednesday two policemen posted at the same Pak Colony police station had been attacked near Bismillah Hotel in Old Golimar.

Constable Sohail Haroon was killed and his associate Shafqat was wounded in the targeted attack. Haroon had remained affiliated with the so-called Karachi Operation in the early 1990s, his associates and seniors said.

Robbers kill man

A man was killed and two alleged dacoits were beaten up when area people overpowered them during an armed robbery in Landhi.

During the hold-up, the dacoits shot at a man who later died at the hospital.

Police said the incident took place in Landhi No 6 at the Ghafoor Sweetmeat mart, where the two suspects barged into the shop, held the occupants of the shop at gunpoint and started looting the shop.

Meanwhile, people from the neighbouring shops raised alarm over the hold-up, the suspects opened fire and wounded a man later identified as Shakir Husain. However, as the suspects were fleeing the enraged people caught hold of them and gave them severe beating.

Area police reached the scene and intervened and arrested the two suspects. Police recovered two pistols and a stolen motorcycle from them, SP of Shah Faisal Town Latif Siddiqui said.

“They did not suffer any gunshot wounds. The area people gave them sever beating”, SP Siddiqui said.

The two suspects were identified as Iqbal and Shahid.

Shakir Husain was a resident of 37-C Area, Korangi No 5, the SP added.

JUI-F leader

Jamait Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) SITE town chapter amir Maulana Abdul Rehman was gunned down early in the morning when he was going to a mosque to offer Fajr prayers.

Police said the incident took place near the Valika Hospital, where two suspects on a motorcycle fired at the pesh-imam within the remit of the Pirabad police station.

The victim was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

SHO Rao Rafique said the killing did not appear to be sectarian in nature. He suspected  enmity as a likely motive for the murder.

The funeral prayer of the deceased was offered at Valika Ground near Banaras, attended by a larger number of people belonging to various walks of life.

JUI-F leaders condemned the killing of Maulana Abdul Rehman and demanded that the government arrest the killers.

Zoo employee

The body of a zoo employee was found in the Garden area early in the morning, police said. The victim, identified as Mohammad Asif.

Police said Asif was an employee of the Karachi Zoological Garden. When he did not return from work on Wednesday evening, his family reported the matter to the police. He was a resident of Usmanabad.

The motive for the murder was not clear but according to police sources Asif was a supporter of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

Bank employee

A bank employee was killed by unknown persons in the SITE area.

Police said the incident took place in Metroville, where Naeem Gondal, an officer in the State Bank of Pakistan was approached by gunmen on a motorcycle and shot him. The victim died on the spot.

Police quoting the family sources said the victim did not have any political or religious associations.

A duty officer of the SITE-A police station said the family will lodge an FIR following the victim’s burial.

Family feud

A man was killed over a family feud in Sohrab Goth.

Police identified the victim as Ansar Raza Riaz, 40.

DSP Iftikhar Lodhi said initial information suggested the killing took place due to a family feud.

CID constable wounded

Two CID constables were wounded when their mobile van was fired at in F.B Area.

Constable Wahid Bakhsh and Abid Rizvi, both posted at Garden, suffered serious gunshot wounds in the attack. A civilian, Asif, was also injured.

The wounded constables were admitted to a private hospital.