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Maulana Ludhianavi's killing sparks trouble in Karachi

Haris Darvesh in Karachi

The killing on Thursday of Maulana Ludhianvi, a leading Sunni leader, led to angry protests in Karachi today. Protestors set ablaze over two dozen government vehicles and ransacked the offices of Business Recorder, Pakistan's only business daily.

Maulana Ludhianvi, a leader of the Sunni Aalmi Tehrik Khatme Nabuwat, was assassinated by some unidentified men. He was the latest victim in a series of killings targeting Shia and Sunni leaders in Karachi.

People began gathering near the slain scholar's residence early this morning. They later torched government vehicles and ransacked state-run bank offices.

The attack on the offices of Business Recorder was the most violent. Arshad Zuberi, chief executive of the newspaper, said a violent mob barged into the building, ransacking and destroying everything in the newsroom and computer rooms.

"It is a complete failure of the military regime...they failed to provide us security," Zuberi said.

Karachi has a history of political, ethnic and religious violence that has claimed more than 4,000 lives in the last four years.

Maulana Abdul Razzaq Sikandar, the administrator of Jamia Islamia Binnoria, today asked people to remain calm. Addressing worshipers and students at the grand mosque after Zohr prayers, he said: "This is a great loss, but we have to follow the divine order of wisdom and patience."

The union of religious parties in Pakistan - Milli Yakjehti Council - observed a country-wide strike.

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