KARACHI, Aug 28: Violence broke out in the Jamshed Quarters area late Tuesday night with gun and arson attacks soon after the targeted killing of a former local leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Jehangir Road, police said.

At least three political activists, including two belonging to the Pakistan People’s Party and one to the Awami National Party, were earlier gunned down in targeted attacks in quick succession in different parts of the city.

In the violence that followed the killing of the former MQM unit in charge, a bus was set on fire on Jehangir Road and a political party office was attacked while intense firing forced closure of markets.

Mohammad Mujahid, the former unit head of the party’s organisational structure, was riding a motorbike when he was targeted in Martin Quarters within the remit of the Jamshed Quarters police station, said SP Gulshan Division Asad Raza.

He added that the victim was rushed to the Civil Hospital Karachi where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Following the incident, some enraged youths attacked an area office of a political party.

Tension spread in the entire neighbourhood with intense firing leading to the closure of shops.

ANP man killed

Earlier, an Awami National Party office-bearer was killed in MPR Colony, off Manghopir Road, said police and party sources.

They added that Amanullah was coming out of a mosque when armed men riding a motorbike fired multiple shots at him and sped away.

“The riders were masked,” said an area police officer.

“They fired three shots at Amanullah and fled,” he said.

“Amanullah was president of ANP’s MPR Colony ward,” said Sindh ANP General Secretary Bashir Jan.

Following the incident, Senator Shahi Syed appealed to party workers to remain calm.

Two PPP men gunned down

Meanwhile, an office-bearer and a worker of the Pakistan People’s Party were killed in a targeted attack in Baldia only a day after the killings of two party activists in Orangi.

Kashif, 35, and Amjad aka Gogi, 30, were killed in firing near their house in Sector 4-I of Baldia, said an official at the Saeedabad police station.

Two others, Raja and Mohammad Ali, were wounded in the attack carried out by armed men riding a motorbike, the police official added.

The victims were rushed to nearby Murshid Hospital and then shifted to the Civil Hospital Karachi, where the two party workers were pronounced dead on arrival, the police said.

Amjad was an officer-bearer of the party in PS 90 constituency, the police said.

His brother, Qamar Gogi, was killed in a similar attack some two years back, the police added.

Following the killings, tension gripped different parts of Baldia Town. Some shops and markets were closed down, with reports of intermittent firing in the area.

The four activists belonging to the three parties were among seven victims killed in the city on Tuesday.

Two killed in Lines Area

In Lines Area, two young men were called from their homes and shot dead near a department store in the early hours of Tuesday, the police said.

ASP Ferozabad Malik Murtaza said someone called Mohammad Danish and Faraz from their residences situated in Jat Lines near the Metro Cash and Carry. They were gunned down within the remit of the Brigade police station, said the ASP.

Both the youngsters sustained gunshot wounds to their chests and abdomen and were rushed to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where they died during treatment, the police said.

The ASP quoted local residents as saying that both men had a criminal background.

But he said the motive for the murder was not clear.

The police investigators seized several spent bullet casings of 9mm and 30-bore pistols at the crime scene.

The killings spread panic in the neighbourhood as rumours swirled that the two men belonged to a political party.

Eatery owner shot dead

The owner of a roadside eatery was shot dead in New Karachi, the area police said.

Liaquat, 50, son of Ghulam Mohammad, was at his eatery in Sector 5-J when armed men riding a motorcycle pulled up there and shot at him, said Gulberg Division SP Tanvir Odho.

The officer added a bullet lodged in the victim’s chest proved fatal while the killers fled without taking any cash or valuables from the hotel.

Later, the body was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities, the police said.

“This was apparently an act of targeted killing but the motive is yet not clear, because he was not associated with any political or sectarian group,” the SP said.

Youth killed in Korangi

A young man was gunned down in Korangi 2 ½ late Monday night, the police said.

Raja Zulfiqar, 25, was sitting outside his house where armed men reportedly tried to rob him, said Korangi Sub-Divisional Police Officer Qasim Ghouri.

The victim was shot twice for resisting the armed robbery within the remit of the Zaman Town police station.

The area police shifted the body to the JPMC for medico-legal formalities.

Man wounded

Earlier, a young man was shot at and wounded on Jehangir Road.

Jamshed Quarters SDPO Qaiser Ali Shah said the victim was identified as Mohammad Saqib. He was rushed to a private hospital on Stadium Road, where he was admitted for treatment, the DSP said.