Renowned qawwali singer Amjad Sabri killed in Karachi gun attack: hospital sources
Sabri shot dead while he was travelling to studio of TV channel to take part in Iftari transmission
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Qawwali singer Amjad Sabri was killed in a gun attack by unidentified miscreants in the Liaquatabad area, reported Dunya News on Wednesday.
Sources indicated that four unidentified gunmen atop two motorcycles opened fire at his car while he was heading for the studio of a private television channel to take part in the Iftari transmission.
Sources privy to police stated that at least eleven bullets were fired at the car with four penetrating the vehicle on the sides and six going through the windscreen.
Reportedly, two bullets fatally injured Sabri with one penetrating the face and other his chest.
Sabri s assistant, who was travelling with him, got injured in the attack and was transferred to the hospital.
Reactions
President Mamnoon Hussain condemned the attack. Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif took notice of the incident and demanded report of the incident from Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah.
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the incident. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan condemned the incident and stated that the attack on Sabri was a question mark over the measures taken by the provincial government to ensure peace in the province. Khan demanded that the culprits be apprehended as soon as possible and be awarded with befitting punishment.
Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan also condemned the attack and condoled Sabri s death with his family members.
Former president and Pakistan People s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari expressed his grief over the terrible incident.
While conversing the media, Sindh Minister for Food, Mines and Minerals Manzoor Wassan stated that Sabri s family had given a number of sacrifices, adding that he was informed of the attack on Sabri while he was in Sindh Assembly. Wasan said that certain forces wanted to destablise Karachi. He also warned that unrest in the city can escalate during the last ten days of the holy month of Ramazan.
A number of famous Pakistani singers and actors expressed their grief over Amjad Sabri s murder.
Shops located near Sabri s residence were closed after the incident. A large number of mourners gathered near the qawwal s house after the incident.
Investigation
Sindh Home Minister Suhail Anwar Sial took notice of Sabri s killing and demanded report of the incident from Sindh Inspector General Police (IGP) A.D. Khawaja and Additional IG. Sial also called a high-level meeting over the sad happening.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah dismissed Station House Officer (SHO) of the area where the attack took place. He also contacted Sindh Rangers Director General (DG) Major General Bilal Akbar after the incident and directed that the matter be investigated.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) West addressed the media and stated that two unidentified gunmen attacked Sabri using a 30 bore pistol.
According to the investigation report, four terrorists were following Sabri s car since he left his home to reach the studio. The report stated that the attackers had covered their faces. Sabri s car was attacked as it approached near the underpass.
Background
Amjad Sabri was born on December 23, 1976. He was the son of renowned qawwal Ghulam Fareed Sabri. He started to learn to sing qawwali at the age of 9. Attack on Sabri came two days after son of Sindh High Court (SHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Justice Sajjad Ali Shah was kidnapped from Karachi.
Karachi is struggling with worst crime incidence for past years prompting the federation to launch a targeted operation in Sindh‘s capital in September 2013.
Sindh Rangers are leading the operation while there is visible reduction in the incidents of target killings and terror attacks in the city.
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