A man was killed while a woman and another youth sustained injuries after two rival groups exchanged indiscriminate fire in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, police said on Friday.
The incident took place near a drain behind Markazi Hussaini Imambargah at the B-3 bus stop in Pehlwan Goth, Block-9 of Gulistan-e-Jauhar. According to the Karachi police spokesperson, the deceased was identified as 18-year-old Shahzaib, son of Saeed Khan, while the injured included 18-year-old Noor Sadiq and 60-year-old Hazrat Bibi, wife of Qamargul. The body and injured were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.
Following the incident, heavy contingents of police and Pakistan Rangers reached the scene and cordoned off the area. A forensic team was also called to collect evidence from the crime scene. Family members and area residents told police that Shahzaib was the eldest among two sisters and four brothers. He had previously worked as a rider for a private courier company but had left the job due to illness.
The police said Sadiq, who was injured in the firing, is the cousin of the deceased, while the injured woman was their neighbour. According to Noor, uncle of the deceased, a quarrel had erupted earlier between their group and a rival group at a nearby market, which later escalated into an exchange of gunfire between both sides.
He said that after learning about the firing, he returned home and found Shahzaib, Sadiq, and other residents sitting near a sacrificial cow. Then, seven to eight armed suspects, including identified suspects Shan alias Shano and Haider, arrived and opened indiscriminate fire. As a result, Shahzaib died on the spot while others sustained injuries.
Noor further alleged that the attackers also fired bursts from a machine gun at the ambulance carrying the victims to the hospital, damaging the vehicle. However, those inside remained unharmed. He said all the suspects belonged to the same locality and were known to residents by face.
The police recorded statements of the injured and the deceased’s uncle, Noor. After completion of legal formalities, the body was handed over to the heirs for burial. The police said the incident appeared to be the result of personal enmity, and investigations were underway.
