KARACHI: Unidentified miscreants on Friday opened fire on a funeral at Mauripur Road in Karachi’s Lyari area, killing a man and injuring eight other people.
According to rescue sources, unidentified men opened fire at the protest rally of the Kutchi Rabita Committee (KRC) at Mauripur Road. The KRC was protesting against the murder of a local, Shakil Hungoro, who was allegedly killed by Rangers in an encounter in Agra Taj Colony.
The body and the injured were taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Civil Hospital.
KRC spokesman, Saleh Kutchi, blamed the banned Peoples Aman Committee, police and Rangers for firing at the funeral. The police and Rangers, however, denied the claim.
SSP South Tariq Dharejo said unidentified miscreants also opened fire at his armored vehicle when he was trying to approach the protestors for a dialogue.
The police fired stray bullets and sprayed water from water cannon in order to disperse the protestors. The protestors retaliated and pelted stones at police and Rangers officials.
Later, the police succeeded in clearing the road for traffic.
When contacted, the PPP provincial lawmaker from Lyari, Sania Naz rejected the KRC spokesman’s claim and said that ‘a third force’ was involved in disrupting peace in the city.
Sit-in outside CM House
Meanwhile, members of the KRC staged a sit-in outside the Chief Minister House in Karachi against the alleged extra-judicial killing of Shakil Hungoro by Rangers.
The four-member KRC delegation that includes Mohammad Siddiq Kutchi, Anwar Shah Kutchi and others met provincial Information Minister Sharjil Memon, Senator Saeed Ghani, PPP leader Rashid Hussain Rabbani and DIG South Dr Ameer Sheikh and informed them regarding the current tense situation and killing of innocent people in parts of Lyari.
Speaking to delegation, the information minister said that it is the priority of the government to maintain law and order in the city including Lyari. Miscreants will be eliminated from every part of the city in order to restore peace, he asserted.
The provincial minister assured the KRC delegation that the check-posts of police and Rangers will be established in Lyari from Saturday night and those responsible for creating law and order situation will be arrested.
KRC leaders later called off the sit-in after getting assurances from provincial lawmakers and officials of taking stern action against miscreants responsible for violence in the old city area.