MQM worker's murder sparks violence: four persons killed, 25 vehicles torched

Incidents of violence and arson, sparked after targeted killing of Farooq Baig, a senior worker of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), led to killing of four other persons and torching of 25 vehicles across the city on Monday evening.
Subsequent to the mourning day observed by MQM to grieve over the targeted killing of its 100 workers during last three months, yet another senior worker of MQM was shot dead by unknown assailants near Babar Market, Landhi, in the limits of Awami Colony police station.
Many parts of the city, including Kharadar, Burns oad, Saddar, Korangi, Orangi, Tariq Road, PIB Colony, Guru Mandir, Martin Road, Jail Road, Garden, Nazimabad, Soldier Bazaar, New Karachi, etc, fell into a strong grip of fear and violence soon after targeted killing of Farooq Baig, who was also a member of Karachi Tanzimi Committee (KTC). Gridlocks were witnessed at I I Chundrigar Road, Shahea Faisal, Shahrah-e-Pakistan and M A Jinnah Road.
All social and commercial activities in these areas came to a standstill as soon as incidents of aerial-firing and arson were started by unidentified miscreants, who torched at least 25 vehicles in different parts of the city including Korangi, Landhi, Malir, Pak Colony, Liaquatabad, F 'B' Area, Gizri, Punjab Chowrangi, New Karachi and Nazimabad.
Police said that Farooq Baig was gunned down at Bagh Korangi Road, near Babar Market, Landhi, in the limits of Awami Colony police station. They said that unidentified armed men, riding a bike, fired multiple shots on 40-year-old Farooq Baig son of Abdul Shakoor Baig when he was travelling in a car GL-6367. Resultantly, he received bullet wounds and was shifted to a private hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. Later, the body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for post mortem.
Farooq, father of three, had worked as KTC member for Landhi and Korangi areas. Police said the deceased was working in Landhi Administration department. Violence erupted in various areas of Karachi after his killing, as armed men restored to aerial firing, forcing shopkeepers to pull down their shutters. They torched a passenger bus at Korangi No 1-1/2 a bus at Landhi sector 36-B, a cab at Malir, a dumper truck at Pak Colony, 3 vehicles near Noor Masjid Korangi, a goods carrier at Al-Karam Square, a water tanker near Super market Liaquatabad, two vehicles at Punjab Chowrangi, a passenger coach at New Karachi and eight other vehicles at Yousuf Plaza, Nazimabad, Sindhi Hotel, Gulshan-e-Shamim, Gizri and Rizvia, respectively.
Heavy gunfire was also heard in several parts of the metropolis, which left two persons, Muhammad 48 son of Mir Hazar and 35-year-old Abdur Razzaq son of Tariq Khan, killed near Korangi Darul-ullum. Two others, Gul Khan, 52, and an unknown person were gunned down at Gulshan-e-Maymar and Pak Colony, respectively.
The disruption of peace in the city also left some 14 people injured. Seven of them were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), three persons to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, and the rest to Civil Hospital Karachi. Heavy contingents of police and rangers were rushed to control law and order in the disturbed neighbourhoods. Scores of MQM workers gathered at the funeral prayers of Farooq Baig, offered at Korangi No 6, Imran Shaheed Ground, after Isha prayers. Later he was laid to rest at local graveyard of Korangi 6.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah took serious notice about the incidents of violence in the metropolis. He directed the police and Rangers to control the law and order situation in the affected areas and take stern action against the miscreants without any discrimination. MQM chief Altaf Hussain expressed profound grief and sorrow on the death of Farooq Baig and demanded of the authorities concerned for immediate action to take responsible persons to task.