New York, June 8, 2016: Karachi saw blood spilled again on the streets and this time two Hindus were among the 3 killed in a liquor shop shooting. The identity of the third person could not be established.
Alcohol consumption is banned in Pakistan during the holy month of Ramazan specially.
The incident happened at the Super Wine shop based in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area in Karachi on Sunday. The gunmen who, as per the police, walked past and opened the fire, killing all three on the spot. The shop-owner Taru Mal is however safe and he has said that he was receiving ‘extortion calls’ from a Dubai based number for long.
It is not clear as to whether the owner tried to intimate the police earlier about the said calls. Ransom demands from non-Muslims are common and can turn fatal as Karachi is one of the most lawless regions in the nation with many Islamist groups running their business.
However, as a general principle liquor is banned in Pakistan. To earn revenue, the government of Pakistan issues special licences under its excise department for the wine shops from where only non-Muslims and foreigners may buy. Such shops are only run by Christians and Hindus in Karachi.
