Pakistani security officials stand guard outside the Imambargah, in Karachi, yesterday. Security has been intensified across the country during the first Islamic month of Muharram.
Internews/Islamabad
At least three worshipers were killed early yesterday morning when gunmen opened fire at two different Imambargahs in Gujranwala, sparking protests from mourners and enraged members of the Shia community. According to police reports, the first incident took place when unknown gunmen opened fire as Mohamed Yousuf, the prayer leader (pesh-imam) of the Qasr-i-Abu Talib imambargah in Mominpura area, had just finished leading Fajr prayers. Yousuf and another person present at the mosque died on the spot.
A short while later, gunmen entered the Qasr-i-Zainabiya imambargah in Shahrukh Colony located a short distance from the first mosque and opened indiscriminate firing, killing worshiper Syed Jawed on the spot.
According the initial investigation reports by the police, the attackers had come on motorcycles and managed to escape. One eyewitness told a local TV channel that the gunmen used a silencer-fitted pistol.
The killing of the three Shia men took place on the fourth day of Ashura, the first ten days of the holy Muslim month of Muharram.
One police officer said the attacks appeared to be sectarian in nature. RPO Syed Akhtar Bharwana said they could not rule out the involvement of the same group in both incidents.
Soon after the incidents, mourners and relatives carried the bodies of the deceased to the main Alam chowk bypass in Gujranwala, blocking the road in protest.
