KARACHI, Aug 17: A young activist of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat was gunned down in a targeted attack in Liaquatabad on Saturday, police and party sources said.

They said armed men targeted 28-year-old Salman Ayub when he was standing outside his home near Nayab Masjid in Liaquatabad No 1. He was hit by three bullets and died on the spot. “The assailants used 9mm pistol in the attack,” said an official at the Super Market police station. Police could not immediately establish motive for the murder.

A spokesman for the ASWJ said the victim was an active member of the party and was killed “only for his association with the ASWJ”.

“Salman had been associated with the ASWJ for years and was regarded as an honest man in the area. His murder is not only an attempt to harass our workers but also part of a preplanned attempt to target them,” he said.

He demanded that the government form a special investigation team to probe killings of the party workers.

Later, the victim’s funeral prayers were held at Liaqutabad Dak-khana, which were attended by party leaders, workers and a large number of area people.

Meanwhile, in Lyari, a body with a gunshot wound to the head was found in a street called Ruee Wali Gali within the jurisdiction of the Kalakot police station in the Lea Market area, said police.

“The victim was identified as Muhammad Sadiq, 45, who was better known as Chand Bhai in Nanak Wara where he lived,” said SHO Saleem Marwar.

“He left home in the morning and ended up dead with a single bullet through the head. He was a former member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement,” said the SHO.