KARACHI, July 24: The renewed wave of targeted killings that began a couple of days ago with gun attacks in the strife-hit areas of Malir and Landhi spread to many other parts of the city on Sunday.

While law-enforcers were visible only on some main roads, frequent gunfire in several localities compelled residents to stay indoors, traders to keep businesses shut and transporters to keep their vehicles off the road.

There were also reports of two rocket attacks in Malir. But no casualty was reported.

The crackle of gunfire earlier sowed fear in Malir when the body of a Muttahida Qaumi Movement activist was brought home from hospital.

SP Malir Zahid Husain said that Badar was wounded in Friday morning attacks by an armed group on the Muttahida offices and houses of its activists. He was under treatment at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds on Sunday.

Some residents of Malir union football ground, better known as Chattai ground, called Dawn offices complaining that their houses had been damaged in firing and they were under a virtual siege as frequent firing continued in the locality.

SP Malir Zahid Husain said that there were reports of rockets fired from the Jaffar-i-Tayyar Society towards Dawood Goth. One rocket landed in an open plot. But the police were still confirming the reports, the SP added.

North Karachi

In the early hours of Sunday, three young men said to be Muttahida Qaumi Movement activists were killed in the Buffer Zone area within the remit of the Taimuria police station.

The police said that Raheel, Salahuddin and Owais were targeted by three armed men riding motorbikes near Erum Shopping Emporium in Sector 15-A.

The officials said that the firing continued for considerable time as before fleeing the assailants apparently wanted to make sure that the men were dead.

Later, the police shifted the bodies of the three men, in their early 20s, to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. They were residents of the Peela School area of North Karachi, the police said.

Surjani

An activist of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, formerly the Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan, was killed and his associate wounded in Surjani Town, police said.

A duty officer of the Surjani Town police station said Naveed, son of Abdul Qayyum, and Noorul Islam, were standing outside Masjid Siddiq-i-Akbar when they were fired at by armed men riding a motorbike.

The official said that both the men sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where Naveed was pronounced dead on arrival. He said Noorul Islam was admitted for treatment.

New Karachi

In the evening, three men were killed and another was wounded in a sweet shop in New Karachi, police said.

“The owners of Zafar Sweet Shop, situated near Disco Morr, were at the shop when two armed men opened fire on them and workers,” said an official of the Sir Syed police station.

The official added that the attackers managed to flee, leaving the victims in a pool of blood.

Some witnesses were quoted as saying that two accomplices of the attackers had taken up positions outside the shop.

The police said that one of the victims had died on the spot, while two others succumbed to their wounds during treatment at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

The police said the deceased were identified as the shop owner, Zafar, his brother, Furqan, and an employee, Iqbal. Another worker, Afnan, was sustained gunshot wounds, the police added.

“A 9mm pistol was used in the attack,” an official said.

New Karachi SP Zafar Iqbal said that they had moved to the area from Gulshan-i-Iqbal about three months back. He said he was not sure if the victims were associated with any proscribed militant outfit.

Landhi

An activist of the Mutthahid Qaumi Movement, Irfan, was killed and his aide, Sohail, wounded when armed riders fired at them near Murghi Khana Stop within the remit of the Shah Latif police station.

The police said that both Irfan and Sohail were sitting near the Murghi Khana Stop when they were attacked. They were rushed to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where Irfan was pronounced dead and Sohail was admitted for treatment, the police said.

Lyari

In Kalokot, three young brothers were sprayed with bullets in the early hours of Sunday, police said.

The attack left two of them dead and one wounded, the police said.

The officials said Ali Akber, 33, Mohammad Husain, 38 and Raees, 34, were sitting in Jamila Street near a graveyard where unknown motorcyclists fired at them.

Ali Akbar and Mohammad Husain succumbed to their wounds at the Civil Hospital, while Raees was admitted for treatment. Police said that the brothers hailed from Hub.

Baldia

A young man was killed at Gulzar Chowk in Baldia Town on Sunday, police said.

They added that Zeeshan, 20, was seriously wounded in the attack. He was rushed to the Civil Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The officials said that a 9mm pistol was used in the firing. The police were not sure if the deceased was associated with any political party or not.

F.B Area

At least three persons were killed and two others wounded in an attack on a restaurant in Karimabad, F.B Area, on Sunday night.

Four armed men riding two motorcycles arrived at the restaurant, Macca Madina Hotel, situated behind Habib Medical Centre, and opened fire on the people sitting there, said an official of the Gulberg police station.

The wounded victims were rushed to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where Akhlaq, Khalid and Kalay Khan were pronounced dead on arrival. The three men had suffered gunshot wounds in the head and chest, said the police.

The officials added that Akhlaq hailed from Quetta.

“A 9mm pistol was used in the firing,” said an official, adding that investigators had collected several spent bullet casings from the crime-scene.