Karachi: Unknown gunmen gunned down a lawyer and his two school-going sons in the western district of Karachi on Tuesday morning, while four other men were killed in different parts of the city.
The gunmen, riding on a motorcycle, attacked the car of Kausar Saqlain, who was a high court lawyer, at Maripur Road. Two of Saqlain’s sons to whom he was going to drop their school, died at the spot.
The sons were identified as Owais Abbas and Mohammad Abbas.
Injured Saqlain was rushed to the hospital but he succumbed to his injuries at the emergency deparmtent of the hospital.
“Apparently it seems a sectarian killing,” Iqbal Mahmoud, the Karachi police chief said.
“But other reasons could not be ruled out as he was the resident of Macchar Colony,” Mahmoud added, referring to the neighbourhood infested with criminals and extortionists.
Lawyers boycotted the provincial High Court proceedings to mourn and condemn the death of Saqlain and his two sons.
“We strongly condemn the killings of our colleague and his two sons and we called off activities at the court,” Mustafa Lakhan, president Sindh High Court Bar Association said.
In the current year at least 15 lawyers were targeted to be killed, he said.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM ) chief Altaf Hussain condemned the murder of Saqlain and his two sons.
“The brutal killings of Mr Saqlain and his two sons were the outcome of the heinous conspiracy to divide the country, particularly the city of Karachi on sectarian lines,” he said.
The chief justice of Sindh High Court ordered the provincial police chief to submit his report to the court regarding the murder of the Saqlain and the two sons.
The funeral prayers of Saqlain, who was also a Shiite orator, and his two sons were offered. A large number of lawyers, relatives and community members attended the prayers.
Later in the day, three men were shot dead at Qatar Mor in Orangi town and their bodies were moved to a nearby hospital. However, their identity was not established.
Another man was stabbed to death in Steel town.
