Prominent lawyer Khawaja Shamsul Islam was shot dead during a funeral prayer in Karachi’s upscale Defence Phase 6 area on Friday. His son, Advocate Khawaja Daniyal, was also injured in the attack and is currently receiving treatment.

The incident occurred near Farhan Academy mosque, during the funeral prayers of well-known businessman Muzammil Karim Paracha, who recently passed away in Dubai. Eyewitnesses reported chaos as gunshots rang out just outside the mosque, striking both Khawaja Shams and his son.

Killer identified as Imran Afridi

According to South DIG Asad Raza, the assailant has been identified as Imran Afridi, the son of a former gunman of the lawyer. The suspect had a known history of hostility towards the slain lawyer, having previously attacked him a few months ago. Initial police investigations reveal that Imran blamed Khawaja Shamsul Islam for orchestrating the killing of his father in 2021.

As per South SSP Mehzor Ali, an eyewitness at the scene claimed the attacker fled while declaring he had "avenged his father". He said the spent bullets found at the scene would be examined.

Also Read: Who was Muzammil Paracha, owner of most expensive number plate in Pakistan?"Khawaja Shamsul Islam was attacked in the past too. The incident will be investigated from the aspects of the previous attacks as well," the SSP added.

Police launch city-wide manhunt

In response, law enforcement agencies have launched a full-scale operation to arrest the accused. Checkpoints and roadblocks have been established at all major exit routes from Karachi, including the Sohrab Goth bus terminals. Police are stopping and inspecting every vehicle, while photos and identifying details of the culprit have been circulated across security posts.

The South DIG stated that a special strategy has been developed to trace and arrest Imran Afridi, and all relevant surveillance footage from the area is being reviewed.

Funeral turns into crime scene

The firing incident has deeply shocked the city’s legal and business communities. Khawaja Shamsul Islam had earned respect as a senior legal professional and was associated with several high-profile cases.

According to CTD officer Raja Umar Khattab, the lawyer suffered three bullet wounds, including one that pierced his heart, which the Karachi bar confirmed. Despite being rushed to a private hospital, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. His son, Khawaja Daniyal, was hit in the lower body and was later shifted to South City Hospital.

A postmortem of the deceased has been completed, confirming the fatal injury to the heart. Police officials also confirmed that a prior attack on Khawaja Shams is being re-examined as part of the ongoing investigation.

The senior police official further said the CCTV footage of the incident had been obtained and more information was being obtained about the culprit. He further suspected the lawyer could have been killed due to a personal enmity.

Karachi Bar Association announces strike

The Karachi Bar Association (KBA) has strongly condemned the incident, terming it an attack on the legal fraternity. The association has announced a strike on Saturday to protest the murder and to demand justice.

The shocking killing occurred during the funeral prayers of Muzammil Karim Paracha, a young tech entrepreneur who had gained fame for purchasing Pakistan’s most expensive vehicle number plate – the ‘A1’ – for Rs100 million. Paracha had passed away earlier in Dubai after a prolonged illness.