Pakistan: Gunmen open fire at religious gathering in Karachi, 5 killed

Five people including a woman were killed and six others injured when unknown assailants opened fire on Saturday at a Shia religious gathering here in Pakistan. 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.

“Five dead bodies have been brought to the Abbasi Shaheed hospital including that off a woman,” Dr Roohina said. She said six other injured people were also brought with bullet wounds and condition of two patients was critical.

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.