WEB DESK /

Pakistan’s leading human rights activist and social media campaigner, Khurram Zaki, was killed by unknown assailants in Karachi last night.

Zaki, who was known for his strong stance against religious extremism was killed by four armed assailants who came on two motorcycles and sprayed bullets while he was having dinner at a restaurant. Police said, a journalist who was with Zaki and a bystander were critically injured in the attack. No one has taken responsibility for the attack. Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Sial has ordered a probe and sought report from police within 48 hours.

Following the incident, protesters carrying the body of Zaki reached the Chief Minister’s House and staged protest. Zaki came into limelight when he led a campaign against Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz for inciting hatred against Shia Muslims.

He and other campaigners built up pressure and got a case registered against Aziz. Zaki’s assassination came on the same day when Karachi police announced that they had arrested a prime suspect in the murder of social activist Parveen Rehman who was killed in May 2013.