Benazir's former security guard killed

Karachi: Aamir Shah, the former security guard of assassinated Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and a senior leader of the ruling PPP, was gunned down, triggering a fresh wave of violence in Pakistan's financial capital.

Shah, 42, who headed the Peoples Unity Union of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), was killed by attackers on motorcycles who opened fire at his white Toyota Corolla near Kamran Chowrangi in the troubled Gulistan-e- Jauhar area on Saturday.

Shah, who started his political career with the Peoples' Youth Wing (of the PPP), was Bhutto's security guard when she returned to Pakistan in October 2007 to contest the general elections in the country.

The killing of the senior PPP activist sparked a fresh wave of violence in Pakistan's biggest city, claiming as many as 11 lives over the last 24 hours and leaving scores wounded.

The domestic and international operations of Pakistan's national carrier were also badly hit after employees went on a snap strike to protest and mourn the

killing of Shah.

Shah, who succumbed to his injuries in a private hospital, was among the party's senior activists and he had served at many different posts in his 18 years with the party.

Witnesses said the gunmen intercepted Shah's car before shooting the PPP leader and his friend Mairaj Khalid Jagirani.

Karachi chief of police Saud Mirza said the assailants probably targeted the men shortly after they finished filling up fuel near Kamran Chowrangi.

He said it was too early to say anything about the motive behind the attack as the investigation was underway and details were being gathered.

As the news of the incident spread, agitated PPP workers reached the hospital seeking the arrest of the people responsible.

The fresh wave of violence began after two days of calm in the metropolis.

Around 16 people were killed and 21 wounded in violence in Karachi last week after the Mutthaida-e-Qaumi Movement party called for a strike to protest against remarks by senior minister of the Sindh cabinet, Zulfiqar Mirza, against the party leadership and the Urdu speaking population of Pakistan.

The situation only improved after Mirza apologised for his remarks in a video released on all television channels and was summoned to Islamabad for a dressing down by President Asif Ali Zardari.

The government had claimed it had dispatched 500 frontier corps paramilitary troops to the country's financial hub to assist the police and rangers but so far the FC personnel are yet to be seen in the city.

Earlier in the month, around 100 people were killed and over 250 wounded in the city, in four days of severe violence and anarchy.