Rights activist shot dead in Karachi

Zakir, 40, was killed Saturday night by four armed assailants who came on two motorcycles while he was having dinner at a restaurant in New Karachi. A journalist, Rao Khalid who was with Zaki and a bystander Aslam, were critically wounded in the attack. 

The assailants attacked Zaki and Khalid with bullets, Senior Superintendent of Police Muqaddas Haider said. Zaki, a former journalist gained fame when he launched a Facebook page, “Let Us Build Pakistan” and became editor of a website devoted to working for human rights and spreading liberal religious views. He had condemned extremism in all forms and led a campaign against Lal Masjid cleric, Maulana Abdul Aziz for inciting hatred against Shia Muslims.