KARACHI: A young official of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Youth Wing was shot dead and another person was injured during a violent clash at a Shisha cafe in Gulistan-e-Jauhar Block 3 on Friday.
The Incident
According to details, a dispute broke out between a group of young men and the management of a Shisha cafe located near Continental Bakery. The victim, identified as 23-year-old Najeeb Ali, son of Niaz Ali, sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. He was rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital but succumbed to his injuries due to excessive bleeding. Najeeb was a resident of Bhittai Abad, originally hailing from Khairpur Mirs (Gambat), and was associated with the real estate business.
Protests and Unrest
Following the incident, enraged relatives, friends, and local residents gathered at the scene, vandalizing the cafe and blocking the main road in protest. The mob also surrounded the Gulistan-e-Jauhar police station, chanting slogans against the cafe owners and demanding immediate justice.
Allegations of Drug Peddling
Zohaib, President of the PML-N Youth Wing and a friend of the deceased, claimed that the party workers had visited the cafe to check if local youth were being lured into drug use. He stated that they had previously warned the cafe owners to stop this heinous business as it was destroying the youth of the area.
Taufiq Ahmed Mangi, a PML-N official from PS-100, alleged that when the group tried to talk to the management, the security guard became aggressive. He further claimed that the cafe owner and his son pulled out pistols and opened fire. Mangi also alleged that the owner boasted about paying bribe money to the police and claimed immunity due to high-level connections.
Police Action
A heavy contingent of police reached the spot to bring the situation under control. Police officials confirmed that they have detained three individuals, including the cafe manager and a security guard identified as Akram, along with the weapon used in the incident.
A police spokesperson said that a clash broke out between Najeeb’s group and the cafe administration over a heated argument, leading to firing by the security guard. Authorities added that a formal case would be registered upon the arrival of the deceased’s legal heirs, and the suspects would be handed over to the Investigation Department for further legal proceedings.
