KARACHI: Police on Sunday launched an investigation to ascertain possible motive and identity of half a dozen assailants, who shot and killed three brothers in North Karachi on Saturday night.

Saad Muhammad, 32, and his two brothers, Khayal, 30, and Nazar Muhammad, 27, were shot dead along the Lyari river within the remit of the Gabol Town police station.

On Sunday, a case was registered under Section 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Ali Muhammad, the victims` uncle, againstunknown persons.

The complainant stated in the FIR that he and his slain nephews lived in Machhar Colony near Sohrab Goth.

He said at around 9:30pm on Saturday he along with other people of his area heard heavy firing from a nearby place and all of them rushed towards there. He said they saw around five to six persons fleeing while firing.

He stated that when they reached the spot, he saw the bodies of his three young nephews lying in a poll of blood.

The area people called rescuer service officials, who shifted the bodies to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.The complainant said he had come to know that around two-three days ago, the victim brothers had a scuffie with a few `boys` over some unknown reasons.

He said he got `strong reasons` to believe his nephews were killed `by those boys.

SSP-Central Maroof Usman, who met the victims` family on Sunday, told Dawn that the investigators got some clues and they were working on it.

Another officer, Gabol Town SHO Imran Afridi believed that the triple murder was motivated by `an old enmity` Meanwhile, the funeral prayers for the victims were held on Sunday at Sohrab Goth.

The three brothers worked as watchman.They originally hailed from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Man shot dead, brother hurt in Baldia A man, Abdul Malik, 55, was shot dead and his brother, Ali Khan, 50, wounded in Baldia Town on Sunday night, police said.

Ittehad Town SHO Ghulam Rasool Arbab said the police arrested the suspect, identified as Gul Muhammad.

He added the victims had allegedly killed the suspect`s father in the recent past and today`s incident appeared to be a `revengekilling`.

The body and wounded were shifted to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi.