Hitman linked to political killings held

Karachi: Police yesterday arrested a hitman believed to be behind the assassination of political activists in Karachi even as a man was gunned down and another injured in different incidents in the city.

Police carried out a raid in north Karachi and arrested Zafar who is also known as Kaki who was a wanted man across several police stations, police officer Asim Qaimkhani said.

The suspect has been charged with the murders of at least six activists of a political party, besides intent to murder, robberies and banditry, Qaimkhani said.

The number of targeted killings has reached alarming levels in recent years with hundreds of political, rights and sectarian activists slain. Last year alone, some 900 activists were killed, media reports said.

The provincial Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah last week presented a report in the Sindh assembly claiming that law enforcement agencies have brought the violence under control with coordinated operations.

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Three assassins were shot dead by police in the last two years and over 300 have been arrested or are being tried in courts.

Police yesterday found a bullet-ridden body of an unidentified man from Lyari district with his hands tied with an electricity cable.

Another man succumbed to his injuries after he was shot and taken to the hospital in Gulistane Jauhar district. Police suspect the two killings might be politically motivated. Another person sustained bullet injuries in Dalmia town but police said his injuries were the result of a confrontation with street robbers.