KARACHI: A prominent industrialist and his driver were shot at and wounded when unidentified assailants fired at their SUV in the Pak Colony area on Wednesday afternoon, officials and witnesses.

Pak Colony SHO Muhammad Ashfaq told Dawn that Mohammad Lakhani, who is the owner/managing director of Adamjee Enterprises, along with driver Majid, left his Karsaz residence for office in SITE in a Land Cruiser.

He said that he exited Lyari Expressway and was on way to SITE when assailants in a white Toyota Corolla intercepted Mr Lakhani’s vehicle and started indiscriminate firing resulting in bullet wounds to the businessman and his driver.

The SHO said Mr Lakhani also fired at the assailants but they managed to escape after their swift action.

FPCCI, KCCI, industrialists’ body condemn ‘assassination attempt’; two police teams formed to investigate the attack

Witnesses said that despite being injured, Majid sped away the vehicle and reached Bara Board near SITE where Mr Lakhani’s acquaintances also reached. They shifted the injured duo to the Aga Khan University Hospital for treatment. The SHO said that Mr Lakhani sustained a single bullet wound in the chest and his driver suffered two bullet wounds in the hand and jaw. Their condition was said to be out of danger, he added.

FIR lodged against unknown persons

The police recorded the statement of Mr Lakhani at the hospital and lodged an FIR against unknown persons under Sections 324 (attempted murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

While the area SHO said that the armed attack might have motivated by some ‘personal enmity’, Keamari SSP Fida Husain Janwari said that it would be premature to talk about possible motive of the incident.

The SSP added that the both district police and the Special Investigation Unit were investigating the case and teams visited the crime scene and collected evidence.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the armed attack and sought a detailed report from the Karachi police chief.

Security sought for business community

SITE Association of Industries president Riazuddin condemned the attack on a senior member of the industrialists’ body.

He demanded the chiefs of police and Rangers to take notice of the incident and ensure security for the business community.

He said the business community was concerned over increasing activities of criminal elements in the industrial area and wondered as to how industrialists would run their factories under such circumstances.

He urged the authorities concerned to increase police presence, enhance patrolling and set up check posts in the SITE area.

In their separate statements, FPCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh and KCCI leadership condemned the attack on the life of Mr Lakhani.

They termed the incident unacceptable and said that the Sindh government and law enforcement agencies take immediate and effective measures to provide security to city’s business and trade community.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2023