Muslim scholar survives assassination attempt in Pakistan's Karachi

A renowned Islamic scholar on Friday survived an assassination attempt in Pakistan's port city of Karachi, police said.

Mufti Taqi Usmani, who is considered the pioneer of Islamic banking in the country, was on his way to offer Friday prayers when motorbike-riding gunmen sprayed his vehicle with bullets on a busy road in the city's eastern district.

Usmani remained unhurt, however, his guard was killed in the attack, provincial police chief Kaleem Imam told reporters.

Gunmen also targeted another vehicle carrying the scholar's associates killing another police guard and injuring two others -- one of them critically, he added.

He said that same group was involved in both attacks.

City police chief Ameer Shaikh told reporters that Usmani had received death threats from Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, adding that the Afghan and Indian spy agencies could have a hand in the attack.

Speaking to Geo News, Usmani said the assailants fired at his vehicle from two sides. He said his wife and two grandsons were also in the vehicle at time of attack.

"Thanks to Allah, we all remained safe," he said.

Imran Ismail, governor of Sindh province of which Karachi is capital, told local broadcaster Geo News that Usmani had informed him of security threats a few weeks ago.

The city, often called Pakistan's business lifeline, has witnessed a long spree of killings targeting religious and political figures.

A military-backed operation launched in 2013 against criminal gangs and militants plummeted the level of violence in recent years, but the fresh incident suggests terrorist are still active and regrouping.

Usmani is the head of Darul Uloom Karachi -- one the largest religious seminaries of the country -- and is known for his moderate views.

His elder brother, Rafi Usmani, is the chief mufti (Muslim legal expert) of Pakistan.