KARACHI: Police have registered a murder case at Darakhshan police station over the brazen daylight killing of senior Supreme Court lawyer Khawaja Shams-ul-Islam, gunned down outside a mosque in DHA on Friday.
The FIR — filed by the victim’s brother, Khawaja Faiz-ul-Islam — includes charges of murder, terrorism, criminal conspiracy, and other serious offences. Seven suspects, including prime accused Imran Afridi, son of Nabi Gul Afridi, have been nominated.
According to police, the attack took place as Shams-ul-Islam left the Quran Academy Mosque in DHA Phase 6’s Khayaban-e-Rahat after Friday prayers and a funeral. He was accompanied by his sons, Khawaja Daniyal-ul-Islam and Khawaja Hamza-ul-Islam, along with a security guard and a police escort.
Investigators say Afridi exploited the crowd outside the mosque to open fire, hitting Shams-ul-Islam and his son Daniyal. Hamza rushed his father to South City Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries, while Daniyal was transferred to AKUH for treatment.
The FIR also cites a prior attack on November 14, 2024, when Afridi and up to 20 armed men allegedly assaulted Shams-ul-Islam, opening fire and physically attacking him. That incident was reported to Clifton police.
Condemning the killing, the Sindh Bar Council has announced a province-wide strike on August 4, boycotting all court proceedings. Vice Chairman Shafqat Rahim and Executive Committee Chairman Muhammad Saeed criticised law enforcement for failing to arrest the suspect, despite his alleged confession, and warned that the victim’s family continues to receive death threats.
