ISLAMABAD: A prominent Sunni Muslim leader from a religious political party was shot dead in a pre-dawn attack in southern Pakistan yesterday, police said.
Doctor Khalid Mehmood Soomro, a leader from the pro-Taliban Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) party in southern Sindh province was offering his morning prayers when unidentified gunmen entered the mosque and shot him dead.
“Two armed men entered in the mosque and fired 11 shots, four bullets hit Khalid Soomro and he died on spot,” Tanveer Hussain, a senior police officer said.
Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, a party spokesman confirmed the killing which took place in Sukkur town, some 500km north of Karachi, the provincial capital and the country’s commercial hub.
The killing prompted shops and businesses to close in parts of southern Sindh and small groups of party members took to the streets across the country in protest. The JUI-F party spokesman said Soomro—who served as a member of Pakistan’s senate (upper house) from 2006 to 2012 -- had received death threats and had been attacked several times in the past.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of the JUI-F called for a countrywide protest on Sunday and asked his party supporters to “take to the streets and hold protest rallies,” but remain peaceful.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pakistan’s first original entry to the Grammys
KARACHI: Pakistani personalities seem to be on a global honour roll, as after bagging Oscars and Emmys, artistes are now heading towards the Grammys. The Tehzeeb Foundation’s music compilation Indus Raag: Beyond Borders has been accepted as an entry for the ‘Best World Music Category’ at the 2015 Grammy Awards.
“It is a moment of honour for us that the work of so many Pakistani artistes has finally entered the race of the world’s finest musicians,” Sharif Awan, general secretary of Tehzeeb Foundation and producer of Indus Raag.
Prior to Indus Raagbeing accepted as an indigenous entry, legendary musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was nominated for the Grammys twice, with compilations made by foreign producers.
Agencies
