960404

2nd day of strike

Another MQM

activist killed

in encounter

with police

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Another MQM activist was killed in an encounter with police, while the MQM mourned the death of its nine activists killed in alleged encounters, for the second consecutive day on Thursday.

Police sources said that on an information that Tariq Sipahi was present in Mominabad along with some armed accomplices and was planning terrorist activities, a police party conducted raid on the hideout of the alleged terrorists who resorted to indiscriminate firing. Police returned the fire in which Tariq was killed on the spot while his accomplices managed to escape.

Police claimed to have recovered a Klashnikov along with a loaded magazine lying near Tariq's body and a Toyota car. An armoured personnel carrier (APC) was damaged in the firing.

MQM sources said that police arrested Tariq from his house No.194, Block 14, Federal B Area, along with his maternal uncle Aashiq Ali Khan at about 3.30 a.m. on Thursday morning and killed him in custody.

Meanwhile, all shopping centres, business houses, schools and colleges remained closed in the city for the second consecutive day on Thursday.

Some of the shops at Empress Market, Shah Faisal Colony, Liaquatabad, and Malir remained open.

A shopkeeper in Liaquatabad told this correspondent that the police raided his house, picked him up and dropped him at his shop, forcing him to open it.

He said that other shops were opened in a similar manner.

Replying to a question, he said that the area police knew only a few shopkeepers' addresses and so other shops remained closed.

A police party raided the office of Silver Coach and forced them to bring their coaches on road. Police threatened that if they withdraw their buses their route permits would be cancelled and they would be put behind bars.

Anyway, more buses were seen plying on the roads. In banks, and government offices still attendance remain thin. Those who were present in the offices seemed to be in a holiday mood.

Sayeed Pervaiz was killed in a firing incident in Malir area.

A dacoit killed Sultana Perveen when she resisted the dacoity attempt in her house in Star Colony.

Shoaib was injured in a firing incident in Hub Chowki area.