Karachi – August 2, 2025:
In a shocking incident that has sent ripples through Karachi’s legal community, prominent lawyer Advocate Khawaja Shamsul Islam was shot dead outside the Quran Academy in DHA Phase VI shortly after attending Friday prayers and a funeral. His son, Daniyal, sustained serious injuries in the attack.
The incident took place just steps from the entrance of the academy. According to eyewitnesses, an armed man wearing a shalwar kameez, blue waistcoat, and a face mask approached the duo and opened fire at close range. The assailant reportedly shouted that he was avenging his father’s murder before fleeing the scene.
Advocate Islam, known for his decades-long legal career and expertise in civil law, had been involved in numerous high-stakes property disputes in Karachi. He was notably the lead counsel in a case concerning the controversial conversion of Fatima Jinnah’s residence into a girls’ hostel and dental college.
Police sources revealed that the attack appears to be driven by personal enmity. Investigators have identified Imran Afridi, son of the late Nabi Gul Afridi, as the prime suspect. A murder case against Nabi Gul had been registered at the Boat Basin police station back in 2021, and Afridi’s family reportedly believed Advocate Islam played a role in the case’s outcome.
Initial findings from the crime scene revealed two spent 9mm shells and a bullet slug. Islam was struck in the chest, while his son suffered a gunshot wound to the lower back. A crime scene unit was dispatched to collect forensic evidence.
Top police officials, including DIG South Syed Asad Raza and SSP South Mehroz Ali, visited the site to oversee the investigation. SSP South later confirmed to media that Advocate Islam had survived a prior assassination attempt in November 2024, which is now being linked to Friday’s attack. CCTV footage from nearby locations is being analyzed to track the assailant’s escape route.
Police also detained two individuals in Keamari’s Sikandarabad area for questioning. According to CTD officer Raja Umar Khattab, initial evidence supports the theory of a revenge killing, but further investigation is underway.
The legal fraternity reacted with outrage. Karachi Bar Association General Secretary Rehman Korai condemned the killing in strong terms and announced a lawyers’ strike on Saturday in protest. “This isn’t just an attack on a lawyer — it’s an attack on justice itself,” he said, demanding swift arrest of those responsible. He added that the incident raises serious concerns about police performance and the deteriorating law and order situation in the city.
Korai said the Karachi Bar is reaching out to lawyers’ bodies across the country to rally support. “We will not back down until the perpetrators are caught,” he vowed.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also expressed deep sorrow over the killing and extended condolences to the bereaved family. In a statement, he ordered an immediate and transparent investigation and instructed law enforcement agencies to ensure the culprits are brought to justice without delay.
