Mufti Nizamuddin was attacked when he came out of his apartment along with his son and gunman.
The armed assassins who were already waiting for Mufti Sahib opened indiscriminate fire in which Mufti Sahib died on the spot, while his son and driver received injuries.
At least one suspect is believed to have received injuries in the return fire by his gunman.
On hearing the news about the assassination people came out on streets. A mob attacked Jamshed Quarters Police Station, set vehicles on fire and destroyed the furniture.
A petrol pump and a bank branch on M.A. Jinnah Road were also reported to have been attacked by angry protestors.
Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai was a close compatriot of Maulana Yusuf Ludhianvi, who, too, was assassinated a few years back when he was going from Masjid Al-Falah in F.B. Area.
Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has expressed profound grief and sorrow over the assassination of Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai.
Condemning the incident, the governor directed the concerned authorities to bring the culprits involved to book immediately and take all steps for justice.
He said that best possible resources would be used in the investigation and the government would expose the terrorists.
He paid tributes to Mufti Nizamuddin for his religious, literary and social services and prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul and grant of patience to the bereaved family and followers.
The governor said that Mufti Shamzai had always been teaching the lesson of peace, love and tolerance and today we need to follow the same. He said this was the only way to pay tributes to him.
He assured that the government would spare no stone unturned in bringing his assassins to book.
Renowned religious scholar Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai was gunned down outside his residence on Sunday morning, DIG Operation Tariq Jamil said.
He said that the firing incident took place at around 0800 hours outside Mufti Sahib's house, which is located across the Jamia Masjid Binori Town.
The DIG said, as Mufti Sahib was an important personality, police guard was provided to him. He, however said, generally Mufti Sahib used to avoid accompany the gunman.
Tariq Jamil, however, said that on Sunday morning Mufti Sahib was accompanied with the security guards. He said that as it was a "target killing" the attackers were already present there.
He said that in the firing Mufti Sahib lost his life, while his three colleagues, including his son, nephew and driver received injuries.
The DIG said that according to the injured, they saw a white colour Cultus car present at the site of the attack.
One attacker is believed to have been injured in the return fire by the security guard, the DIG said. Instructions have been issued to find out the injured attacker in all the city hospitals.
He said that there is a lot of resentment prevailing among the people. He said a group of outrage people also attacked and damaged a police station located adjacent to Binori Town Madressah.
He said that he has contact with elders of Binori Town and they were making all-out efforts on their part to pacify the sentiments of the people.
He said that Mufti Sahib was a stalwart personality and it is difficult for the people of control their emotions.
The DIG said that police is making all-out efforts to ensure protection to the life and property of the general public and would adopt all measures to contain the damage to the public property.
To ensure security the entire Town Police officials have been directed to remain in their offices to meet any untoward situation, he added.
Tariq Jamil said that foolproof security arrangements have been made for the burial of Mufti Sahib.
Meanwhile, as the news of murder of Mufti Sahib was spread in the city wildfire, people came out on roads and started pelting on public transport and putting on fire old tyres and blocked the traffic in some parts of the city. The people representing various walks of life have expressed their deep regret over the tragic incident in which a prominent religious scholar Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai was killed.
Meanwhile, violence erupted in different parts of Karachi after the assassination of Mufti Nizamuddin.
The protesters set on fire dozens of vehicles, a petrol pump, two banks, a fast food restaurant and two police stations.
The affected areas included Guru Mandir, Sohrab Goth, North Nazimabad, North Karachi, Orangi, Banaras Chowk and some other areas where the police had to resort to teargas shelling to control the situation.
As precautionary measures the police had blocked the roads leading towards affected areas.
At Guru Mandir area a bank was set ablaze and shop windows were smashed. The enraged religious activists also destroyed billboards and traffic signs.
In Gulshan-e-Iqbal, the protestors set ablaze a foreign fast food restaurant and a wine shop, while a police post at Sohrab Goth. The tyres could be seen burning at Super Highway in a vast area.
Later, Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai, along with one of his followers, who died of heart attack after hearing the news of Shamzai's death, was laid to rest beside Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Ludhianvi at Jamia Masjid Khadimun Nabieen graveyard in Gulshan-e-Iqbal after Maghrib prayers.
The funeral was taken out from the Binori Mosque, Guru Mandir and was attended by the Chief Minister of NWFP, Akram Khan Durrani, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Mufti Muhammad Rafi Usmani, Dr Abdul Razzak Sikander and hundreds of religious scholars and students.
The participants of the funeral procession dispersed after the burial.
Judicial probe ordered: Sindh Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar has ordered a judicial inquiry from a Sindh High Court judge into murder of Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai.
Presiding over a meeting to review law and order situation at Chief Minister house in Karachi, Mahar said that no one would be allowed to disturb law and order situation in the province and Karachi in particular and terrorists would be dealt strictly.
The meeting also decided to fix Rs 2 million reward for those providing information leading to arrest the assassins. Mahar directed the concerned authorities to arrest the killers of Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai. He hoped that these assassins would be arrested like the other terrorists involved in terrorism in the city have been arrested recently.
The Chief Minister said that Mufti Shamzai had a very high esteem among religious scholars and those who had killed him were anti-state and anti-people elements.
Mahar appealed the law-abiding citizens to assist the government in this regard. He said the people should maintain unity and peaceful atmosphere.
The meeting was also attended by Sindh Minister for Religious Affairs Irfan Gul Magsi, Provincial Chief Secretary Dr Muttawakal Kazi, Inspector General of Police Syed Kamal Shah, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Syed Anwaar Haider, Director General of Rangers, Principal Secretary of the Chief Minister Bakhshal Khan Gadaro, Secretary of Information Mehtab Akbar Rashidi, Joint Director of IB, DIG of Special Branch and other high officials.