'Peaceful' protest marred by violence, turmoil: six killed, 12 injured in Karachi

A complete strike was observed in the city following a protest call by the Sindh chapter of Pakistan People's Party against the Supreme Court of Pakistan's decision declaring the appointment of National Accountability Bureau Chairman former Justice Deedar Husain Shah as null and void.
The call for a 'peaceful protest' was marred by violent incidents which left six persons dead and 12 others inured. Over a dozen vehicles were also torched in various parts of the city. Tension gripped various areas of the metropolis including Lyari, Orangi Town, Kharadar, Gulistan-e-Johar, Shanti Nagar, Sachal Goth, Malir, Gulshan-e-Hadeed and other Sindhi and Balochi speaking localities, where miscreants resorted to firing in air to force shopkeepers not to open businesses.
All commercial and trading activities came to a standstill as soon as incidents of firing and arson by unidentified miscreants ripped through different neighbourhoods of Karachi. Attendance in offices remained thin as public transport stayed off the road during the whole day. Many petrol pumps and gas stations closed their dispensers creating hardships for motorists.
All educational institutions remained closed on the directives of Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq, provincial minister for education. Karachi University had also postponed all exam papers scheduled for Friday. The Sindh Assembly in reaction to the said decision of Supreme Court has passed a unanimous resolution condemning the petition of the leader of opposition, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
Although heavy contingents of police and rangers were seen patrolling various areas of the city, the miscreants, who resorted to firing without any fear of apprehension, torched over a dozen vehicles in various localities of the metropolis.
They torched two private buses, a mini bus (W-21), four private vehicles, a trailer and a number of pushcarts at SITE, Mehmoodabad, Garden, Burnes Road, New Town area, Korangi and Sohrab Goth, respectively. A 40-year-old man, Shaukat, son of Ghulam Nabi, was targeted by armed gangsters at Noorani hotel in the jurisdiction of Kalri Police station. The victim, who was a resident of Shah Beg line Lyari, died on the spot.
Another man was shot dead at Maripur road when unidentified armed men asking restaurants to close business, opened indiscriminate fire on 40-year-old Shaukat, son of Ghulam Hussain on resistance. Ghulam Hussain, the resident of Slaughter yard road Shah Baig Lane, died on the spot. A bird vendor, Sheeta son of Tulsi was gunned down at Siddique Wahab road near Spencer hospital by armed men.
One Aslam, 16, son of Allah Dita was shot dead by unidentified armed men near KMC Workshop, Civil Hospital Karachi area. The body was moved to the CHK for medico-legal formalities. Similarly, one Shabbir, 32 son of Ahsan Abbasi was killed by unknown armed men in Orangi Town Sector-1 and two others namely Baba Khalid, 50 son of Aziz Ur Rehman, and Mazhar, 20 son of Tanveer were injured. The deceased was a cleaner of the Astana of Baba Khalid.
In Zaman Town Korangi, unknown miscreants killed one Abdul Aziz, 40, son of Abdul Ghani, when he was selling Irani petrol. A restaurant owner, Abdul Sattar, 50, son Abdul Samad was gunned down in Khadda Market, while sitting near his restaurant. He died on the spot and was shifted to Civil Hospital. Four men, who sustained bullet wounds in various incidents, were brought to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) while and six other injured were admitted in Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK).