KARACHI/RAWALPINDI : A local leader of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) was killed in a targeted attack in Rawalpindi on Sunday while the central president of the party, Aurangzeb Farooqi, escaped a bid on his life in Karachi late on Saturday.

Maulana Mazhar Siddiqui, the spokesperson of the ASWJ’s Rawalpindi chapter was targeted on Sunday morning near Pirwadhai More within the precincts of the Rawalpindi’s Golra police station.

In another incident, ASWJ’s central president was targeted by unknown gunmen near Quaidabad bridge area in Karachi on Saturday night.

The ASWJ leader escaped unhurt in the attack while three of his bodyguard sustained injuries, according to a party spokesperson.

The ASWJ Karachi chief narrated the incident, “We were coming from a program in Korangi’s Zia Colony when some miscreants opened fire at us from the bridge opposite Swedish College. They may be on motorbikes. Their gunshots hit our vehicle. Tire was burst and our vehicle stopped by roadside.”

A large number of police and Rangers personnel reached the spot and cordoned off the area as a probe into the incident went underway.

SSP Rao Anwar said that the vehicle of the religious party leader was travelling from Quaidabad to Nagan Chowrangi when it was fired upon by unknown gunmen who were positioned on top of Quaidabad bridge.

He added that no loss of life was reported in the incident.

It is pertinent to mention here that at least six people, including four policemen, a personal security guard and a driver of Mr Farooqui, were killed when gunmen attacked them on Rashid Minhas Road on Dec 25 2012.

INP/AH