Arrest Warrants Issued; Previous Attack Also Under Investigation
Karachi — August 8, 2025:
In a major breakthrough in the targeted killing of senior Supreme Court lawyer Khawaja Shamsul Islam, police on Friday submitted their initial report before an anti-terrorism court (ATC), formally identifying eight prime suspects behind the murder.
The report, filed at the ATC within Karachi Central Jail’s anti-terrorism complex, stems from a complaint lodged by the victim’s brother, Khawaja Faisal. The case has been registered under sections relating to murder, attempted murder, and relevant clauses of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
According to the police report, Islam was attacked in broad daylight on August 2, just after Friday prayers, while attending the funeral rites of an acquaintance at the Quran Academy on Khayaban-e-Rahat.
He was ambushed at the mosque staircase by the main suspect, Imran Afridi, who allegedly fired multiple rounds before vanishing into the crowd.
The ATC has issued arrest warrants for the absconding suspects, identified as Imran Afridi, Zarar Afridi, Inam Khan, Usman Afridi, Taqdeer, Bahar Gul, Khasta Gul, and Shehryar.
At the time of the attack, Islam was accompanied by his sons — Khawaja Daniyal-ul-Islam and Khawaja Hamza-ul-Islam — along with a private security guard and a police escort. Despite these security measures, the attackers managed to execute the fatal shooting.
The FIR states that Imran Afridi, son of Nabi Gul Afridi, opened fire while Islam was descending the mosque stairs. One bullet struck Islam; another injured his son Daniyal.
In a desperate effort to save their father and brother, Hamza rushed both victims to South City Hospital, where Islam was pronounced dead. Daniyal was later shifted to Aga Khan University Hospital for further treatment.
Notably, the investigation report also cites a previous attack on November 14, 2024, in which Imran Afridi and up to 20 armed men reportedly assaulted Islam. That earlier incident, involving gunfire and physical assault, had been registered at Clifton Police Station, but no decisive action was taken at the time.
The brazen nature of the killing and the history of prior threats have sparked widespread outrage in the legal community.
Reacting to the incident, the Sindh Bar Council condemned the murder in the strongest terms and announced a province-wide boycott of court proceedings on August 4.
In a joint statement, Vice Chairperson Shafqat Rahim and Executive Committee Chairman Muhammad Saeed criticized law enforcement agencies for their failure to arrest the known suspects—even after a confession had reportedly been made by the main accused.
“It is deeply regrettable that a senior member of the legal fraternity was gunned down in such a targeted manner,” the statement read. “Despite earlier threats and clear identification of the perpetrators, justice continues to be delayed.”
The legal community is now demanding swift arrests and a transparent trial, as questions mount over security lapses and delays in acting on prior complaints.
