Chritsmas Day Shooting in Karachi: 25 dead; funerals postponed due to Wahabi thugs on streets

REUTERS/FILE KARACHI: An attack on Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) leader on Tuesday sparked violent protests in several areas of Karachi, reported Express News. Protesters pelted stones and burnt tyres and vehicles in various areas including Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Nagan Chowrangi, Waterpump, Lasbela, Patel Para and Korangi Expressway. ASWJ leader Maulana Aurangzeb Farooqui was attacked by unidentified gunmen earlier during the day outside a madrassah in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area. The attack left six others dead, including four police officials. According to ASWJ spokesperson Akbar Saeed Farooqui, the injured leader was now out of danger after being treated at the Liaquat National hospital. Following the incident, the party had urged workers and supporters to remain calm and not stage violent protests. ============= Mourning day: City braces for closure as ASWJ calls strike By Our Correspondent Published: December 26, 2012 The police van accompanying ASWJ’s Aurangzeb Farooqi bore the brunt of the attack on Tuesday. Four policemen died in the attack while another was injured. PHOTO: ONLINE KARACHI: As the city went through another bloody attack and its fiery fallout, Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat, formerly the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, called for a strike on Wednesday (today) against the assassination attempt on its leader. A day of mourning will also be observed across the province. If the murder attempt on Aurangzeb Farooqi, which claimed the lives of six people, was not enough, unidentified assassins shot dead at least 12 more people across Karachi, taking the death toll on Tuesday to 18. The Karachi chief of the banned SSP had narrowly escaped a murder attempt when motorcycle-riding attackers ambushed his convoy in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. ASWJ spokesperson Akbar Saeed Farooqui told The Express Tribune that the ASWJ has appealed to the transporters and the business community to support its strike call to make it successful. The ASWJ has asked its workers not to take law into their hands. The representatives of transporters and business associations, however, said they had not decided to support the strike call and would decide “after assessing the situation”. Violence erupts The attack on ASWJ chief had sparked violent protests in several areas of Karachi, including Nagan Chowrangi, New Karachi, North Karachi, Nazimabad, Lasbela, Abul Hasan Isphani Road, Sohrab Goth, Malir, National Highway, Patel Para, Mehmoodabad, Baloch Colony, Korangi and Gulberg areas. As main thoroughfares were blocked by protesters and unidentified men fired aerial shots, all commercial activities were suspended in the affected areas. Public transport vehicles disappeared from the roads as violence erupted. “We stopped our vehicles around 5pm as mobs blocked the roads,” said Syed Mehmood Afridi, the Karachi Transport Ittehad general secretary. The public transporters union has instructed its drivers not to operate their vehicles on Wednesday due to the volatile situation in view of the strike called by the ASWJ. “Public buses will not come out until the situation normalises,” he said. “We will observe the situation in the morning and then decide whether to run our buses or not.” Targeted attacks Earlier, two SSP workers, Abdul Hafeez and Ghulam Haider, were shot dead in Orangi Town when they were on their way to attend a workers convention at Nagan Chowrangi. Also in Orangi Town, two men of the Shia community, Nadeem Akhtar and Syed Shahid, were gunned down. DSP Zahid Hussain said Akhtar was also associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement but may have been killed over sectarianism. In Lines Area, two more men of the Deoband sect, Rozi Khan and Naimat Khan, were killed while another, Ateeq, was wounded in a targeted attack outside a mosque. DSP Usman Bajwa also linked their murder to sectarian violence. An alleged criminal, Zainul Abideen, was killed by the bullet of his accomplices as the group made its escape after firing at an imambargah in New Karachi. DSP Chaudhry Akhtar said the man was associated with the SSP and was booked in two murder cases. Near Radio Pakistan, 26-year-old Mazhar Zaheer was gunned down, Preedy police said. The body of Ghulam Hussain, 35, was found from a garbage dump within the Nabi Buksh police limits. A young man, who has yet to be identified, was shot dead in Kamil Gali, Kharadar police said. Gulshan-e-Iqbal police found a bullet-riddled body of a man, who has yet to be identified. Similarly, Eidgah police also found the body of a young man, which was shifted to the Edhi morgue at Sohrab Goth. Shia funeral The funeral of two Shia brothers, slain a day earlier in Nazimabad, was held at the Rizvia Imambargah. The participants also staged a protest and torched a passenger bus. Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2012. ====================================== RT @nadiaanwar89: I was crossing the bridge when I heard fire shots on ASWJ leader..That was scary... After 2 mins of firing I saw cops & ambulances on d spot FavoriteRetweetReplyFollow heavy and relatively dangerous firing being reported from Nashtar Basti, old sabzi mandi, #Karachi Why the hell ASWJ leader had police protection. Every tom dick and Harry seems to have police protection except common men who pays for it Karachi | a minute ago KHI: ASWJ K Karkunan Ghulam Haider Aur A.Hafeez Ke Nema E Janaza Aaj Bad Magrib Masjid e Farooq e Azam Islam Chowk Orangi Mey Ada Ki Jayegi. karachi | a minute ago =============== Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) کراچی … سندھ پولیس میں اعلیٰ سطح پر تبادلے اور تقرریاں کی گئی ہیں، عام تعطیل کے باوجود نوٹیفکیشن آج ہی جاری کئے جانے کا امکان ہے۔ نمائندہ جیو نیوز طلحہ ہاشمی کے مطابق سندھ پولیس میں اعلیٰ سطح پر تبادلے اور تقرریاں کی گئی ہیں جس کے مطابق شاہد حیات کو ڈی آئی جی ساوٴتھ جبکہ آصف اعجاز شیخ کو ڈی آئی جی ویسٹ تعینات کردیا گیا ہے۔ کافی عرصے سے تقرری کے منتظر علیم جعفری کو ڈی آئی جی ایسٹ مقرر کیا گیا ہے جس کی انہوں نے جیو نیوز سے گفتگو میں تصدیق کی ہے جبکہ جاوید اوڈھو کو ڈی آئی جی کھارا در تعینات کردیا گیا ہے۔ 25 دسمبر کی عام تعطیل کے باوجود سندھ پولیس میں تبادلے اور تقرریاں کی گئی ہیں اور امکان ہے کہ اس کا نوٹیفکیشن بھی آج ہی جاری کردیا جائے گا۔ ذرائع کے مطابق سندھ پولیس میں اعلیٰ سطح پر مزید تبادلے اور تقرریاں ہونے کا امکان ہے۔ کراچی … گلشن اقبال کے علاقے میں نامعلوم موٹر سائیکل سواروں کی فائرنگ سے اہلسنت والجماعت کے رہنما اورنگزیب فاروقی زخمی ہوگئے، تاہم ان کی حالت خطرے سے باہر ہے، واقعے میں جاں بحق افراد کی تعداد 5 ہوگئی، 3 پولیس اہلکار، ڈرائیور اور ذاتی محافظ شامل ہیں۔ شہر میں آج فائرنگ کے واقعات میں جاں بحق افراد کی تعداد 10 ہوگئی ہے۔ ترجمان اہلسنت والجماعت کے مطابق گلشن اقبال میں موتی محل کے قریب نامعلوم افراد نے مولانا اورنگزیب فاروقی کی گاڑی پر فائرنگ کی جس کے نتیجے ان کے 3 پولیس محافظوں سمیت 5 افراد جاں بحق ہوگئے ان میں اورنگزیب فاروقی کا ذاتی محافظ اور ڈرائیور بھی شامل ہے، جبکہ واقعے میں اورنگزیب فاروقی، ایک محافظ اور پولیس زخمی ہوئے تاہم رہنما اہلسنت والجماعت کی حالت خطرے سے باہر ہے۔ ترجمان اہلسنت والجماعت اکبر سعید نے اورنگزیب فاروقی پر فائرنگ کے واقعے کی شدید مذمت کی ہے۔ گلشن اقبال میں فائرنگ کے واقعے کیخلاف ناگن چورنگی پر مشتعل مظاہرین نے احتجاج کیا جس کے بعد علاقے میں کاروبار بند ہوگیا جبکہ پولیس کے مطابق عائشہ منزل پر مشتعل افراد نے ایک بس کو آگ لگا دی۔ فائرنگ کے واقعے کے بعدگلشن اقبال کے علاقے میں خوف و ہراس پھیل گیا، اسٹیڈیم روڈ پر مشتعل افراد کی ہنگامہ آرائی کے باعث ٹریفک معطل ہوگیا۔ذرائع کے مطابق جاں بحق ہونے والے تینوں پولیس گارڈ ہیں جبکہ ایک اور زخمی اے ایس آئی کی حالت تشویشناک ہے۔دوسری جانب شہر کے مختلف علاقوں میں فائرنگ کے دیگر واقعات میں بھی 5 افراد جاں بحق ہوئے ہیں اور آج ہلاکتوں کی تعداد 9 ہوگئی ہے۔ کراچی میں فائرنگ کا پہلا واقع شاہ فیصل کالونی میں پیش آیا جہاں نامعلوم افراد نے ایک شخص کو قتل اور ایک کو زخمی کر دیا۔ اورنگی ٹاوٴن سیکٹر 5 میں نامعلوم افراد کی فائرنگ سے مذہبی جماعت سے تعلق رکھنے والے 2 افراد جاں بحق ہوگئے، اورنگی ٹاون میں ہی فائرنگ کے واقعات میں ایک شخص ہلاک ایک زخمی ہوا جبکہ لانڈھی میں فائرنگ سے 3 افراد زخمی ہو گئے۔ DHARNA in #Karachi by Religious party extremists near Shahra-e-Faisal WTF FavoriteRetweetReplyFollow RT @mqmshahfaisal: Redrawing #Karachi: #MQM files review petitions against SC verdict http://t.co/cFUiYJpG Karachi | a minute ago RT @WasayJalil: Happy Marry #Christmas to all in #Pakistan n around the world on behalf of QT #AltafHussain #MQM #Karachi #Lahore #Punjab Karachi | a minute ago Some so called religious party's people opening gunshots on civilians and in open air to terrorize. Ot protest they call. #Karachi Karachi, Pakistan | a minute ago #Karachi: Aaj Halaakto Ki Tadad 15 Ho Gai, 3 Gariya Jala Di Gai. Mukhtalif Elaqo Me Firing, Karobar Band. 5:55pm #Craupdate# Karachi, Pakistan | a minute ago Shara-e-faisal/National Highway blocked at 3 spots, Awami Markaz, Natha Khan goth and Malir city #Karachi" Karachi | a minute ago firing near Hassan Square, Essa Nagri areas, #Karachi KARACHI,PAKISTAN. | a minute ago RT @WasayJalil: Happy Merry #Christmas to all in #Pakistan n around the world on behalf of QT #AltafHussain #MQM #Karachi #Lahore #Punjab Karachi | a minute ago From Hill Park, overlooking the sunset and Shahrah Faisal in #Karachi http://t.co/6OCfupEf Karachi, Pakistan | a minute ago Seems I'm going to miss the biryani dawat at Nazimabad today. #Karachi #crisis Karachi, Pakistan | a minute ago RT @Sam_pk: @flucky83 Shara-e-Faisal blocked due to protest #Karachi" Karachi | a minute ago Gunshots on civilians #Karachi Stay safe people Karachi, Pakistan | a minute ago RT @ArabiqPrince: Violence erupted in #Karachi in connection with maulana farooqui assasination, stay safe #Karachites Karachi, Pakistan | a minute ago #Karachi itta sara traffic! shara e faisal! Happy Birthday Quaid! Merrrrrryyy Christmass! Karachi, Pakistan | a minute ago Shara-e-Faisal blocked due to protest #Karachi FOLLOW MULTINEWSPK SEND ON 4O4O4 KARACHI,PAKISTAN. | seconds ago #Karachi: Aaj Halaakto Ki Tadad 15 Ho Gai, 3 Gariya Jala Di Gai. Mukhtalif Elaqo Me Firing, Karobar Band. KARACHI PAKISTAN | a minute ago @flucky83 Shara-e-Faisal blocked due to protest #Karachi" Karachi | a minute ago RT @BilalZKhan: Gloria Jeans. #Xmas #Off #Karachi http://t.co/HJiMLyRj Karachi | a minute ago Shara-e-faisal/National Highway blocked at 3 spots, Awami Markaz, Natha Khan goth and Malir city #Karachi #Karachi: Shahrah e Faisal Drig Road Pay Car Nazre Atish. @Feroz Ali Kamdi 6:40pm ============ Karachi, Pakistan | a minute ago اے این پی کی دہشت گردی کیخلاف متحد ہونے کی اپیل | Dawn Urdu #karachi http://t.co/ndDPPYyu via @dawn_com KARACHI | a minute ago Firing In Abul Hassan Ispahni Road ,Several Injuries Expected , #SSP & #ASWJ Terrorists Are Destroying Public Property In #Karachi Karachi Pakistan | a minute ago Today's dead count 17 confirmed #news #Karachi Karachi | a minute ago بھارت میں ساحل سمندر کی ریت سے بنائے گئے سینٹا کلوز کے مجسمے http://t.co/dMZxSR7P #Pakistan #Karachi Karachi,pakistan | a minute ago کارکن طاہرالقادری کی 14جنوری کی کال کیلئے تیار رہیں، الطاف حسین http://t.co/rd0Fqkem #Pakistan #Karachi Karachi,pakistan | seconds ago RT @TrendsKarachi: 'lala' is now trending in #Karachi http://t.co/uT2vOlpA Karachi | a minute ago RT @TanvirH: #Karachi has been acting strange today. Situation tensed in different areas. Transport strike tomorrow. PAKISTAN | a minute ago RT @TanvirH: #Karachi has been acting strange today. Situation tensed in different areas. Transport strike tomorrow. Karachi , Pakistan | a minute ago 'lala' is now trending in #Karachi http://t.co/uT2vOlpA a minute ago #Karachi has been acting strange today. Situation tensed in different areas. Transport strike tomorrow. Karachi | a minute ago Firing In Abul Hassan Ispahni Road ,Several Injuries Expected , #SSP & #ASWJ Terrorists Are Destroying Public Property In #Karachi Karachi , Pakistan | a minute ago RT @SocietySector90: #MQM #KARACHI #SOCIETYSECTOR #ALTAFHUSSAINBHAISAID PICTURE http://t.co/L8ThfLOH 2 minutes ago RT @SocietySector90: الطاف حسین ڈاکٹرطاہرالقادری کی بات چیت۔۔#MQM #KARACHI a minute ago #Karachi Civil Hospital Kay Qareeb Firing 1 Shaks Janbahaq, Landhi Moinabad Mai Ahtijaj Road Block KARACHI PAKISTAN | a minute ago RT @SocietySector90: الطاف حسین ڈاکٹرطاہرالقادری کی بات چیت۔۔#MQM #KARACHI a minute ago #Karachi: Landhi Mansehra Colony Main Firing Say 1 Shaks Halak. Edhi info 8:02pm KARACHI PAKISTAN | a minute ago Amazing day at the beach followed by the usual #karachi chutiyapa on the way back at Maripur. Thanks @T_Durrani for the amazing hut! Karachi | a minute ago RT @akchishti: so 13 madarssa's all affiliated to ASWJ were used to bring #Karachi to stand-still - no- law enforcement agency to counter rioters. Karachi | seconds ago How are the halaat in #Karachi right now? Got to go to a wedding.. ============ RT @YusraSAskari: Revelry over, please spare a thought for #Karachi - 21 killed today and a strike call for tomorrow! #GodHelpUs Islamabad/Rwp/gujar khan | a minute ago RT @YusraSAskari: Revelry over, please spare a thought for #Karachi - 21 killed today and a strike call for tomorrow! #GodHelpUs Karachi, Pakistan | a minute ago RT @YusraSAskari: Revelry over, please spare a thought for #Karachi - 21 killed today and a strike call for tomorrow! #GodHelpUs Karachi, Pakistan | a minute ago #AltafHussain condemns wounding of Maulana Aurangzeb Farooqi in a murderous attack #Karachi #Pakistan http://t.co/JXbkFKgo via @Dailymotion Karachi Pskistan | a minute ago #Karachi Depleted team likely to play Japan in Asian CT http://t.co/ffCraJr2 Karachi | a minute ago RT @allaboutmqm: Video: #MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain condemns wounding of Maulana Aurangzeb Farooqi in a murderous attack #Karachi... http://t.co/vQvDLqI4 Karachi | seconds ago Oo Yar!! Kal #Bcom ka paper hoga ya nahi? Aik cheez to confirm krdo koi? Plzzz #UoK #Karachi Karachi, Sindh | a minute ago RT @allaboutmqm: #MQM Senator Tahir Mashhadi in WAQT Straight Forward on #Karachi's territorial boundaries & Delimitation orders... http://t.co/LcDKDUgl Karachi | a minute ago RT @akchishti: so 13 madarssa's all affiliated to ASWJ were used to bring #Karachi to stand-still - no- law enforcement agency to counter rioters. Karachi, Pakistan | a minute ago Video: Colourful programme held at 90 ( Nine Zero ) MQM #Karachi on the eve of #Christmas #Pakistan http://t.co/qBB3dnHE Malir Karachi Pakistan | a minute ago RT @SahilMQM: Colourful programme held at #NineZero #Karachi on the eve of #Christmas #MQM #Pakistan http://t.co/3oxbXn9h via @DailymotionUSA Detroit, MI, USA | a minute ago RT @YusraSAskari: Revelry over, please spare a thought for #Karachi - 21 killed today and a strike call for tomorrow! #GodHelpUs Karachi, Pakistan | a minute ago Colourful programme held at #NineZero #Karachi on the eve of #Christmas #MQM #Pakistan http://t.co/3oxbXn9h via @DailymotionUSA Karachi Pskistan | a minute ago RT @YusraSAskari: Revelry over, please spare a thought for #Karachi - 21 killed today and a strike call for tomorrow! #GodHelpUs Underground | a minute ago #Happy #Birthday to the nation's father, #Quaid-e-Aazam #Muhammad Ali #Jinnah. #merryhomeschool @CNN #KARACHI #PAKISTAN Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan | a minute ago RT @YusraSAskari: Revelry over, please spare a thought for #Karachi - 21 killed today and a strike call for tomorrow! #GodHelpUs somewhere | a minute ago Happy Holidays: Pope calls for ‘end to bloodshed’ in Christmas message http://t.co/EE1mjxVC #Pakistan #Karachi Karachi,pakistan | a minute ago Russia unveils $25 bln oil link to Pacific http://t.co/trLAQeKF #Pakistan #Karachi ============ http://t.co/rtK4lQnV#karachi #pakistan KARACHI | a minute ago RT @MULTINEWSPK: #Karachi: Orangi qabsa say 2 afrad ki Nashen baramad. +Lasbala firing 1 halak. +Landhi babar market firing 2 zakhmi. seconds ago RT @MULTINEWSPK: #Karachi: Orangi qabsa say 2 afrad ki Nashen baramad. +Lasbala firing 1 halak. +Landhi babar market firing 2 zakhmi. Karachi , Pakistan | a minute ago RT @TanvirH: We Won yayyy... now back to reality. #Strike #TargetKilling #Cng #Karachi a minute ago China rare earths producer, Baotou Steel, extends output halt http://t.co/bjlY3hBs #Pakistan #Karachi Karachi,pakistan | a minute ago RT @APMSOSECTORD: #MQM Nisar Panwar in DAWN Awam Ki Baat: Discussion on Social & Economical Issues of Liaquat Market Malir #Karachi a minute ago #Karachi: Orangi qabsa say 2 afrad ki Nashen baramad. +Lasbala firing 1 halak. +Landhi babar market firing 2 zakhmi. KARACHI,PAKISTAN. | a minute ago ڈیفنس: معمولی تنازع پر پولیس افسر کا بیٹا قتل http://t.co/HnOLvWH0 #Pakistan #Karachi Karachi,pakistan | 2 minutes ago نیشنل بینک آئی پی گیس پراجیکٹ فنانس کرسکتا ہے،عدنان عادل http://t.co/7Fpicej6 #Pakistan #Karachi Karachi,pakistan | 2 minutes ago ٹیکسٹائل برآمدات 8 فیصد اضافے سے 5 ارب 40 کروڑ ڈالر ہوگئیں http://t.co/RsgpQlpz #Pakistan #Karachi Karachi,pakistan | 2 minutes ago جولائی تا نومبر: غذائی تجارت کا خسارہ31 کروڑ ڈالر کم ہوگیا http://t.co/UqmgVex5 #Pakistan #Karachi Karachi,pakistan | 2 minutes ago غذائی تحفظ یقینی بنانے کیلیے کوشاں ہیں، معظم جتوئی http://t.co/CMJ88oqn #Pakistan #Karachi Karachi,pakistan | 2 minutes ago پروین شاکر، عورت کے استحصال کی داستان http://t.co/2kqoYXZ5 #Pakistan #Karachi Karachi,pakistan | a minute ago پنجاب کا سیاسی دنگل http://t.co/xtIxOGfz #Pakistan #Karachi Karachi,pakistan | a minute ago ملائیشیا کو پاکستانی برآمدات 28 کروڑ ڈالر سے تجاوز http://t.co/vZSNGIJX #Pakistan #Karachi Karachi,pakistan | a minute ago ضعیف الاعتقادی اور نوسرباز جعلی عامل http://t.co/HNxiPbER #Pakistan #Karachi Karachi,pakistan | a minute ago سوپ انڈسٹری نے گیس لوڈ شیڈنگ کو خطرہ قرار دے دیا http://t.co/O2h2yH3W #Pakistan #Karachi Karachi,pakistan | seconds ago RT @WasayJalil: Happy Merry #Christmas 2all in #Pakistan n around the world on behalf of QT #AltafHussain #MQM #Karachi #Lahore #Punjab seconds ago RT @ZaibaRizvi: @msislam_50 Allah Keray ho jaay bhai .. we are fed up with this made dog #Karachi #MQM #Altaf a minute ago RT @allaboutmqm: #MQM Senator Tahir Mashhadi in WAQT Straight Forward on #Karachi's territorial boundaries & Delimitation orders... http://t.co/LcDKDUgl