Salim Khatri

Salim Khatri ( – 22 March 2023) was a Pakistani Islamic scholar and a political religious leader, considered to be an important figure for the Sunni Deobandi community in Karachi, who was well known for his opinions on religion and politics.

He was assassinated on 22 March 2023 by an unknown persons in Karachi.

He was taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead. This was the second targeted killing in Karachi in two days, when a leader associated with the Sunni Ulema Council met a similar fate, being shot and killed near his home while returning from morning prayers, which made people worried about the city's safety.

Aftermath A month later in April, Karachi police took swift action by apprehending three suspects believed to be connected to the murder. Inspector General (IG) Karachi, Javed Alam Odho, revealed that the police acted on intelligence received and organized a raid in New Karachi's Bilal Colony, successfully arresting the three individuals involved in what appeared to be a sectarian-targeted killing. Furthermore, He also raised concerns about a conspiracy that had been allegedly plotted during the Ramadan period, aimed at inciting sectarian violence. He went on to suggest that foreign intelligence agencies might have played a role in orchestrating such target killings within the city.

The news of Khatri's assassination brought a substantial gathering of ASWJ leaders and members to the hospital. They pointed fingers at anti-state elements' as the perpetrators of the attack and criticized the authorities for their inability to maintain law and order in the city. In response to this incident, protesters staged a demonstration that blocked the highway near the Edhi morgue at Sohrab Goth, where Khatri's body had been transported. This protest caused disruptions to traffic and concluded only after the police offered assurance that those responsible for the attack would face legal consequences.