Taqi Usmani survives attack; two guards killed

Renowned religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani survived an assassination bid while his two security guards lost their lives in a terrorist attack, here on Friday. Maulana Amir Shahab - also a cleric of Darul Uloom Korangi, sustained bullet injuries in the attack carried out by six unknown armed motorcyclists near NIPA roundabout in Gulshan-e-Iqbal yesterday afternoon.
Mufti Usmani was on way to nearby Baitul-Mukarram Mosque to lead the Friday prayers when four armed men on two motorbikes intercepted two, including Usmani's vehicle, sprayed vehicles with shots at close range and fled the scene leaving four men in a pool of blood. SP Gulshan Tahir Noorani said Mufti Taqi Usmani along with his family (wife and two grandchildren) and his guard Farooq - a cop of Sindh police and the driver was present in black Honda Civic car. The attackers targeted Usmani's vehicle first, with shooting the guard and driver.
In the meantime they targeted the second vehicle - a Toyota Corolla, killing a guard Sanobar Khan and injuring Maulana Amir Shahab who was driving the vehicle. Both cars belonged to Darul Uloom Korangi. Police guard Farooq and a private company guard Sanobar Khan were killed in the attack.
Following the incident, a heavy contingent of police and other law enforcement agencies, including the paramilitary rangers and rescue teams reached the scene and rushed the victims to nearby private hospital and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) for medical aid and postmortem examinations, respectively.
The investigators cordoned-off the area and started collecting evidences. Police claimed to have recovered some 15 empties of 9mm pistol from the spot.
Director JPMC Dr Seemi Jamali said Maulana Amir Shahab who sustained multiple bullet wounds to his upper torso was being treated. The injured was on ventilator and his condition was critical till filing of this report.
Sharing the initial police probe, in-charge CTD Raja Umar Khitab said unknown attackers 'possibly' followed cars of the religious clerics from some distance and used handguns. He apprehended that the incident might have been continuation of recent sectarian attacks in the metropolis.
He said further investigation is underway. Meanwhile the IG Sindh convened a high level meeting at CPO to review law and order in the city. He directed the AIG Karachi to probe the incident on modern investigation techniques and make all out efforts to arrest the criminals. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Muard Ali Shah and Governor Imran Ismail took notice of the gory incident and sought detailed investigation report in this regard.