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Iqbal Raad, two othersgunned downWIRASAT HUSSNAIN

KARACHI: Iqbal Raad, one of the defence counsel for the deposed prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, in the October 12 plane conspiracy case, and two others were shot dead by unknown gunmen on Friday.

The other two who died were identified as Shiraz Khatri, son of a former judge of the Sindh High Court, Adil Khatri, and Ghulam Rasool, a peon of Iqbal Raad.

Raad, a former advocate-general of Sindh, received multiple injuries from a Kalashnikov burst and died on the spot, in his chair. He was sitting in his office just before Juma prayers and was about to leave to offer prayers.

Shiraz Khatri, who had his office on the same floor, had come to see Raad. It was about this time the assassins ambushed the office and opened fire. Khatri and Rasool received single shots in their temples and died before medical aid could be provided. Their bodies lay close to the internal door of Raad's chamber.

According to eye-witnesses, the assailants, four in number, had come in a beige colour Suzuki Alto. One of them remained in the car, while the others made for the second floor of the Paradise Chamber, just opposite to the FIA office near the Passport Office, to reach Raad's rooms an eye-witness said. The second floor of the Paradise Chamber's has many other offices of advocates. Many of them rushed to Raad's office immediately after the incident.

However, police sources claim that there were three assailants.

The bodies were removed by the SHO, Artillery Maidan, Saeed Khan, to Civil Hospital for autopsy.

It was only a fortnight ago that Raad's office was burgled and his fax machine and other equipment were stolen by unknown persons.

Deputy Inspector General of Karachi police Javed Iqbal has constituted a special team to investigate the murder. Iqbal will himself supervise the investigation.

The special team consists of SP South Iqbal Memon, SP CIA Manzoor Ahmed Mughal, SP City South Zaeem Iqbal Shaikh, SDPO Clifton Farooq Awan, DSP CIA Karachi Ather Rasheed Butt, DSP CIA Karachi Rasheed Shah, DSP CIA Ayub Gabol and SHO Artillery Maidan Naeem Ahmed.

Meanwhile, the Citizens Police Liaison Committee has developed the sketches of the three killers.

The Artillery Maidan Police Station has registered a case vide FIR No. 56/2000 under Section 302/324 PPC read with Section 7-B of Anti Terrorism Act against the unknown assailants.

Sindh Governor Azim Daoudpota has condemned the act of terrorism and condoled with the families of Iqbal Raad and the other two victims.

The Consul General of the United States of America, John Bennet has also condemned the killing of Iqbal Raad.