Gunmen on two bikes opened fire outside a Majilis gathering in Karachi and killed atleast five people.
Atleast five people including a woman were killed while six others were injured, in a firing incident outside a Majlis gathering in Karachi, reported thenewstribe. The incident took place at the home of a Shia Muslim doctor in Karachi's Nazimabad area where people had gathered for a religious meeting.
"Four men wearing helmets and riding on motorcycles came to the house where the religious gathering was taking place in the month of Muharram and they opened indiscriminate firing on the people standing at the gate," a senior police official said.
“People were coming out of Imambargah after prayer and majlis,” eyewitnesses said. "Almost 100 people were attending the majlis but there were no proper security arrangements for them," sources spoke to Pakistan's newspaper The Nation.
The five deceased included four brothers whose bodies have been shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
SSP West, Nasir Aftab told the media that the residents of the house had not sought security for having the private Majlis. "The police was not informed about this religious gathering and there was no security," he said.
Ironically, the house outside which the firing took place is located in a lane just behind the Nazimabad police station and is also close to a Rangers checkpoint. IG Sindh, AD Khawaja said that the Majlis was taking place at the house of Dr Asad Kohati who was targeted first by the gunmen who came and opened fire and fled away.
Shia Muslims are frequently targeted in sectarian violence in Karachi and Quetta, the capital cities of Sindh and Baluchistan provinces. The attack took place despite the security agencies and law enforcement agencies being on high alert during the month of Muharram when Shia Muslims hold religious gathering throughout the month.
Chief Minister, Murad Ali Shah acknowledged the incident and ordered Inspector General of Police (IGP) to conduct swift investigation and submit a report. Meanwhile Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaaf chairman Imran Khan and Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar condemned the attack.
(With agency inputs)
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