KARACHI: Religious scholar Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani survived an assassination attempt on Friday as unidentified gunmen opened fire on two vehicles in Karachi, killing three others while two persons sustained injuries.
According to initial reports, two separate incidents of firing took place in two different parts of the city ─ Gulshan-i-Iqbal and Sharea Faisal. However, police later clarified that both cars were targeted by armed pillion riders on the Nipa flyover.
According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) East Zone Amir Farooqi, police guard Farooq and private guard Sanobar Khan, son of Shaukat Khan were killed in the attack.
DIG Farooqi said that a bystander also sustained injuries in the attack. He further said that bullet shells of 9mm pistol have been collected from the crime scene, whereas closed-circuit TV (CCTV) camera footage and other evidence are being analysed.
Karachi police chief Dr Amir Shaikh confirmed that Mutfi Usmani and his wife were in one of the cars targeted. He added that Mufti Usmani remained unhurt in the attack.
Prime Minister Imran Khan issued a “strongly worded condemnation “of the incident and expressed his anguish at the killings of Mufti Usmani’s guards.
“Scholars such as Mufti Usmani are assets to the country and the Islamic world,” he said in a statement released by the PM House. “Provincial government should ensure the security of religions scholars.”
The prime minister labelled the attack on Mufti Usmani a “deep and disgusting conspiracy” and ordered that “all possible measures be taken to expose it”.
Sindh CM, Governor has taken notices of the incident and sought a detailed report of the incidents.
