KARACHI: A retired professor and his young son were found murdered in their Clifton residence on Wednesday morning, officials said.

They added that Dr Fasih Usmani, 83, and his son, Kamran Usmani, 23, were stabbed to death in their home in Block-5.

The bodies were taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where doctors said they were stabbed with a knife or sharp instrument.

SSP South Sheeraz Nazeer said that Dr Usmani was a retired professor of the Dawood University of Engineering and Technology and lived in Clifton with his wife and son. His two daughters lived in the United States and Canada, respectively, he added.

The slain professor’s wife found the bodies when she came home after her morning walk

The younger Usmani also lived in the US and had come to Karachi around two months ago reportedly to tie the knot, the SSP said, adding that the couple also lived abroad with their children but they had come back about six months ago.

Dr Usmani’s wife, Aasia, told the police that it was their routine to go for a walk at the Zamzama Park after Fajr, but today her husband said he needed some rest. So she left for the walk alone. She said she usually left the gate open but when she returned she found the door locked.

She knocked on the door but got no response. Then she entered the house from another door only to find her husband and son dead.

The body of her son was lying on the bed and her husband was lying dead on the floor. The killers did not take away anything from the house, the SSP said.

SSP Nazeer said the motive of the killing was not yet known.

Police officer wounded in ‘targeted attack’

A police officer was shot at and wounded in Khudadad Colony on Wednesday, according to the Brigade police.

They added that Sub-Inspector Syed Ghaus Alam, 42, was attacked by armed pillion riders near Allahwala Pakwan Centre.

Brigade SHO Naveed Soomro said that Alam was returning home in his car after dropping his kids at a school on main Kashmir Road and when he reached the Khudadad Colony traffic signal, two suspects riding a motorbike intercepted his vehicle, fired at him and rode away.

He sustained a single bullet wound on the face and was taken to the JPMC from where he was shifted to the Aga Khan University Hospital for further treatment. His condition was said to be stable.

The police said that the wounded official had worked with the Special Investigation Unit and Counter-Terrorism Department. Currently, he was working at the investigation wing of district South.

The area SHO said that it appeared to be a targeted attack.

He was part of a team of investigators that probed TV anchor Mureed Abbas’s murder case and arrested suspect Atif Zaman.

However, SSP Investigation (South) Tariq Dharejo told the media that the attack did not appear to be linked with the investigation of the anchor’s murder case.

The police said that he had also investigated several cases pertaining to the Lyari gang warfare and militants of banned outfits.

His elder brother was also a policeman and killed in the line of duty. He was recruited in police after the killing of his brother on martyr quota.

Meanwhile, police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested another suspect allegedly involved in the murder of Mureed Abbas and his friend.

SSP Dharejo said that the police arrested Adil Zaman in Defence. He is a brother of prime suspect Atif Zaman.

‘MQM-L hitman’ arrested for third time

Police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested a man, said to be associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London, who was arrested twice in the past, for his alleged involvement in the targeted killings of over 100 people.

Acting on a tip-off, the police arrested Abdul Salam near Nishtar Road and recovered a grenade, rifle, TT pistol and stolen motorbike from him, said SSP East Azfar Mahesar.

“He is a MQM-London man and during initial probe he disclosed that he had murdered 111 people in Karachi since 1994,” he said.

There were at least 57 cases registered against him and he was twice arrested in the past. “He was in charge of a team of target killers in Orangi Town,” he said.

The SSP claimed that the held suspect along with his accomplices had killed two army personnel, one navy personnel, eight policemen, one doctor, raped and killed five girls, two government officials, four workers of PPP, one worker of PML-Nawaz, 14 members of MQM-Haqiqi, 11 Punjabis and Pakhtuns, 57 persons over suspicions of being informers and seven persons who failed to pay extortion.

He said that the suspect was also a ‘main suspect’ in the May 12, 2007 cases.

He was first arrested in 1998 by the Orangi Town police and remained in jail for five years. He was released on parole in 2004. Then he was arrested by the Gulberg police after an encounter in 2014 but later got released on bail.

“He had established a reign of terror in Orangi Town,” the SSP said, adding that he had also taken “shelter” in the Tableeghi Jamaat in order to avoid arrest.

He said that the suspect was an employee of the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2019