Six dead, Pakistani religious leader wounded in firing

A religious leader in Pakistan had a miraculous escape on Tuesday when unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen opened fire at his vehicle in the southern port city of Karachi, killing six people, media reports said.

The attack took place in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area when Maulana Aurangzeb Farooqi, leader of Ahle-e-Sunnat Jamaat, a religious organisation for Sunni Muslims, was travelling in his car, Geo News reported.

While Geo News said Farooqi's three guards and the driver were killed, and he sustained bullet injuries, but was said to be in a stable condition, Xinhua put the toll at six.

Karachi police Senior Superintendent Asim Qaimkhani told Xinhua that six gunmen riding three motorbikes opened fire at the vehicle carrying Farooqi, killing his driver, bodyguard and four policemen escorting him.

He said two attackers were also wounded in a gunbattle with the police. However, the attackers managed to flee the scene.

A protest erupted in the area following the attack and infuriated activists set a bus on fire and pelted stones at vehicles and shops.