Journalist among 14 killed in Pakistan violence (Second Lead)

ISLAMABAD - A journalist of a private television channel was shot dead by a group of assailants in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi, where at least 14 others were also killed in a series of target killings, police said.

Wali Khan Babar, 29, who was working with the Geo News, was attacked near Liaquatabad Dak Khana bus stop Thursday evening when he was going home in his car, the DawnNews reported Friday quoting a senior police officer.

“Initial investigation suggests that Babar was stuck in a traffic jam when a man stopped in front of his car. The man pulled out a pistol and fired several shots at Babar before returning to his associate waiting across the road on a motorbike to disappear from the scene in a flash,” said Deputy Inspector General of Police (West) Sultan Khawaja.

The police found five empty cases of .9mm bullets from the scene. Babar received bullets on his forehead, face and neck.

The official ruled out mugging attempt as motive behind the firing, and said, “It appeared to be a premeditated murder”.

The Express Tribune reported at least 14 people were killed and 20 injured Thursday in a spate of violence that broke out in the city after a senior leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) was attacked.

Police said that Bashir Jan, Sindh ANP’s information secretary, suffered a bullet injury on the hand, while his two guards were shot in the legs and abdomen. They were rushed to a hospital.

Most of the firing incidents took place in parts of Orangi Town, including Banaras, Bukhari Colony, Kati Pahari.

One Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) worker, Hammad, who was also said to be a relative of MQM leader Shoaib Bukhari, was shot dead in the Liaquatabad area. A bus in Banaras was fired at, killing six commuters on the spot.

The report also said two men were killed in separate incidents of firing in Liaquatabad and Banaras metroville, while another man was shot dead in Korangi Chakro. Late at night in Orangi Town, a man was killed by firing, while the body of an unidentified man was found near Jam Sadiq bridge Friday morning.

Four bodies and eight injured were brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, three bodies and two injured to the Civil Hospital Karachi and one body and seven injured to Qatar Hospital.

Law enforcement agencies were put on high alert following the incidents.