Killing of MQM leader, others mourned

Karachi: The southern city of Hyderabad Sunday mourned the murders of a political activist and two members of a minority community as disgruntled voices demanded the country’s top leadership to resign their positions if not able to stop killings.

Late Saturday night unknown motor cyclists gunned down Jalilur Rehman, a former deputy mayor of a town and senior leader of Muttahida Qumi Movement, when he was sitting at Nishat Chowk, a busy gathering spot in the city. Rehman died on the way to hospital and his friend was injured.

In a separate incident, unknown assailants shot two members of minority Bohari community. Ghulam Murtaza and Shabbir Ali were said to be peaceful vendors who would sell Samosas in the bustling Saddar area of the city, located some 180 kilometres north of Karachi.

The police said that both the men were relatives. The brother of Murtaza was also shot at a different location but he survived the injuries.

The police termed the incident as ‘target killing’ that was so far confined to this volatile city.

Rehman’s funeral prayer was held at Nishat Chowk and a large number of MQM and mourners attended the prayers.

The city remained closed to mourn the death of the MQM leader and the two other victims. All the main markets and shopping centers pulled their shutters down.

MQM chief Altaf Hussain condemned the killing of Rehman and the two members of the Bohri community and dubbed the incident as a heinous conspiracy to sabotage the peace of the province and the country.

He called upon the president, prime minister and the federal interior minister to take stern action against the murders and bring them to the court to hand them the exemplary punishment.

“if they are unable to take action against those brutal murderers and criminals, they should tell the truth to the nation on the call of their consciences and resign from their seats,” Hussain demanded.

The MQM chief also demanded the government to provide security to Marvi Sarmad and Tahira Abdullah, the two right activists who were getting threats from militants.