KARACHI, Nov 8: In what appeared to be part of the ongoing targeted killings in the city, three more people were killed on sectarian grounds in Orangi while a policeman was shot dead on the Superhighway on Thursday that witnessed a total of 10 killings.

Over the past three days, seven people have been killed in what police described as ‘sectarian’ attacks in different parts of the city, with almost all the victims belonging to one sect.

A 42-year-old man and his nephew, both employees of a textile factory, were gunned down after being intercepted and identified by attackers in Orangi Town Sector 4, said a duty officer of the Pirabad police station.

Quoting eyewitness accounts, the officer said that the victims, later identified as Syed Nisar Mehdi and his nephew Syed Najam Abbas, riding a motorbike stopped at a petrol pump near Daak Khana and as soon as they resumed the journey they were intercepted by armed men riding a motorbike. The armed men forced the victims to remove their helmets at gunpoint and fired multiple shots at them after identifying them. Both the victims died on the spot.

The police shifted the bodies to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities. Hospital sources said that the victims had sustained gunshot wounds in the chest and head.

Pirabad SHO Ashfaq Baloch said that the men worked at a textile factory in SITE. “The killings seem to be a result of sectarian strife in the city,” he observed.

Following the shootings, tension spread in different parts of Orangi Town leading to closure of markets.

Later in the evening, the funeral prayers for the deceased were offered at the Rizvia Imambargah.

Trader shot dead

A trader associated with the Tableeghi Jamaat was gunned down in Orangi Town on what police suspected to be sectarian grounds.

Naseem Fazal, 35, was killed at his pet shop in Gulshan-i-Bihar, Orangi Town No 16, in a drive-by shooting, said an official of the Pakistan Bazaar police station.

He added that the victim suffered a gunshot wound, causing his instant death.

The victim was an area resident and associated with the Tableeghi Jamaat, the police said.

Official killed in attack on police van

A policeman was shot dead in a gun attack on a police van within the remit of the Sohrab Goth police station on the Superhighway on Thursday morning, officials said.

The victim, Mohammad Nazir, 50, was the 98th police official killed during this year in the city, according to official record.

Posted as Munshi at the Al Asif police kiosk, Nazir was going in a police van (SP-3739) to check the officials on bank duties when he was targeted near Malik Agha restaurant, the police said.

They added that he sustained multiple gunshot wounds causing his instant death.

The police were not sure about the number of attackers and the mode of transport they used.

The victim was a resident of Gulshan View apartments and originally hailed from Okara district, Punjab, according to the police.

Man found shot dead

A young man was found shot dead at a raiti bajri stand in the Sikandar Goth area of Sachal, police said.

They added the victim was identified as Ahmed Shah, a labourer and resident of Sohrab Goth.

The police shifted the body to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital but the victim’s family took away the body without completing medico-legal formalities.

The victim had been kidnapped on Wednesday, the police said, suspecting personal enmity as a motive for the killing.

Estate agent killed

An estate agent was killed in the Manghopir area, police said.

They added Wajeehullah, 45, was heading to work when he was shot dead in Khairabad within the remit of the Manghopir police station.

A duty officer of the Manghopir police station said that the victim had disputes with some people over monetary matters.

The police said that the victim had sustained 10 bullet wounds, causing his instant death. They shifted the body to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

Trader gunned down

In Surjani Town, a dealer in electronic goods was killed in Lal Mohammad Goth within the remit of the Surjani Town police station.

Zahir Shah, 36, had recently moved from Malir to the rented house in Surjani where he lived alone, the police said.

The victim hailed from Swat and was father of a child.

Police shifted the body to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

‘Gangster’ shot dead

A suspected gangster booked in eight cases was killed in Shanti Nagar, police said.

They added Sanaullah Baloch, 27, was shot dead in Street No 3.

DSP Nasir Lodhi said that the deceased was associated with a Lyari gang.

The police quoted victim’s family as saying that he was gunned down by his rivals.

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

Young man killed

A young man was killed in Keamari, police said.

They said the Sikandar Saleem, 32, was shot dead outside his house in Gulshan-i-Sikandarabad No 5 within the remit of the Jackson police station.

The victim was a security guard at a private company.

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

‘Robbers’ kill guard

A security guard was killed while resisting a robbery attempt in SITE, police said.

They added that Badshah Khan was shot dead when he posed resistance to armed robbers who intercepted a garments factory vehicle near Rasheedabad in remits of Site-B police station and tried to snatch Rs60,000 from one of the occupants of the vehicle.

The suspects fired at the guard and took away the cash, the police said.

They said the victim was a resident of Baldia Town.