Saudi diplomat shot dead in Karachi

By jazbablog - Mon May 16, 11:50 am

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KARACHI: A Saudi diplomat was killed in a drive-by shooting near the consulate in Karachi on Monday, the second attack on Saudi interests in Pakistan’s biggest city in less than a week, officials said.

The motive of the attack was not immediately clear, but authorities said they were investigating whether it was connected to the death of Saudi-born Osama bin Laden, who was killed by US forces in Pakistan on May 2.

An official from the media section of the Saudi embassy identified the man as a Saudi diplomat. Karachi police named him as Hassan al-Khatani.

Police said that the Saudi had been driving a vehicle with diplomatic plates when two motorcycle riders unleashed a hail of gunfire at a crossroads in Defence.

“The consulate employee died of multiple bullet wounds on the spot,” said Inspector General of Sindh Police Fayyaz Ahmad Leghari.

“The attackers fled on the motorbike,” he added. “At this moment, we can’t say who killed him,” Leghari said.

Provincial home ministry official Sharfuddin Memon identified the dead man as a junior officer at the consulate.

“We are investigating if it was linked to the Abbottabad operation or was an isolated incident,” he said.

Last Wednesday, drive-by assailants threw two grenades at the consulate in Karachi in what officials said could have been reaction to bin Laden’s death.

But there was no claim of responsibility for the attack.